“But I have some rules, Amelia,” Whitney said. “You have to finish out the school year. You two can take a few days, a week at most. Then you have to come back. Understand?”

Amelia’s head bobbed up and down.

“I’m trusting you,” Whitney added.

“I know,” Amelia answered quietly, and it was then that Lauren saw what Whitney was up to. This was just another tactic to get Amelia back on her side. Too bad for Whitney, Lauren was better at manipulation. Whitney was no match for her.

Facing Lauren, Whitney said, “And you can keep the money. I won’t say anything about it to the police.”

“Seriously?” Amelia’s tone was both shocked and grateful.

Nicely played, Whitney.

Perhaps Lauren had underestimated her.

“It was yours, anyway,” Whitney said, her attention back on Amelia. “I saved it for you, hoping to buy you a car for your sixteenth birthday, but your dad beat me to it.” Whitney tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “When you get back,” she said, throwing Amelia a pointed look, “and you finish out the year, maybe you two can plan some type of summer trip.” She paused, and Lauren saw her chest pull in as she forced a breath. “Possibly even take that trip to your dad’s.”

Amelia’s face fell. “Dad,” she breathed out. “Will you have to tell him?”

“Yes, but it’s been a long time coming,” Whitney said, and Lauren could read the turmoil in her expression. It was clear this wasn’t something she ever planned to do, and even though it wasn’t enough, it made Lauren slightly content. She liked seeing Whitney off-kilter. Unsure. Scared.

“Do you think he’ll still want me to visit?” Amelia coiled a strand of hair around her index finger. “Still want me in his life?”

“Oh, honey.” Whitney took a step forward, reached her arm out to touch Amelia’s. But Amelia moved away, and Whitney’s fingers simply grasped at the air, as if it was something she thought she could hold. “I think he’ll be very mad at me, but not at you. Not at all. He’ll always be your dad, no matter what.”

The sentiment made Lauren’s skin crawl. Her dad would be hers no matter what, too, and that gave her no comfort. Again, she felt anger for being the one left. The one to carry this burden. This history. The family that Amelia was able to escape.

Lauren had spent so many years being angry with the person responsible for taking away her sister. There was no way this woman, this stranger, could make her believe that was Lauren’s own mother.

Amelia took a step toward Lauren and then hesitated, her gaze once again finding Whitney. Lauren froze. “What will you tell the police?”

“That I found you.”