Crystal sighs, and in that sigh are a thousand wrongdoings she can’t correct. “When you first told me what you suspected happened, I didn’t connect the dots, but at the vigil … I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t know if Savi had taken him or if Pam had, or what I was even dealing with. I knew I had to figure out a way to get him back to you. But I was so worried Savi or Pam would get in trouble—legally, I mean. Not only had I kept any knowledge of this baby from the world, but now he was involved in a swap? I was paralyzed with fear.”

“How did you keep Pam from saying anything?” I ask Savi.

“She thought she’d go to jail.”

“Look, Savi knows what she’s done is very wrong,” Crystal interjects. “Right, Savi?”

Savi says nothing.

“Oh, does she?” I look toward Savi. “Do you know you can’t steal another woman’s baby to make Mommy all better?” I hate how cruel I sound, but these aren’t dolls we’re dealing with—they’re humans. “What you did is inexcusable, Savi. There are real consequences to your actions. Do you understand that? This isn’t just a magic trick. This is real life.”

“I know.”

I address Crystal. “Are you even capable of taking care of Oliver? It’s clear you don’t want him.” My heart lurches thinking about him.

“I don’t know.” Crystal’s honesty rips away my righteousness. As much as I’ve been through, how would I feel raising another woman’s baby after my husband just died? It’s hard enough raising my own by myself. But then I straighten. We are mothers. This is what we do.

“I’m so sorry, Ms. Rebecca.” Savi’s voice wobbles, and the ice around my heart begins to thaw. But where can we possibly go from here? She stole my child. The preposterousness of the actual situation settles over me like a lead blanket. This isn’t the stuff of fiction. This is my life. And here is a little girl crying for help from a mother who is oblivious to anyone’s pain but her own.

The adrenaline dump from the last few days leaves me almost catatonic, and I can barely form the words to tell her she needs to get professional help—they all do.

“Do you forgive me?” Savi asks.

Do I forgive you? I think of all the people I need to forgive: Jake for taking that job so many years ago, Chris for dying, my mother for not taking better care of herself, Crystal for lying, Savi for taking my child. Can I possibly forgive her? And then I realize it’s not her I need to forgive—it’s myself.

The door opens before I can answer.