Chapter 82

The late afternoon sun slanted through the tall windows of the Lewis family estate, casting long shadows across the polished floors. Margaret Lewis sat alone in the east wing parlor, surrounded by open photo albums. Her trembling fingers traced a photograph of seven-year-old Camille, beaming with a missing front tooth and holding a science fair ribbon.

“First place,” Margaret whispered to the empty room, her smile crumpling.

She turned a page. Camille at ten, sitting with Margaret on marble steps, their heads bent over “The Secret Garden.” Margaret remembered how Camille had begged to read two chapters that night.

The memories washed over her in waves. These were all from before Rose had arrived when Camille was thirteen. Before everything changed.

With shaking hands, she pulled out a photo tucked between pages: Camille at ten in the kitchen with Margaret, making Christmas cookies despite the chef’s protests. Flour dusted their faces, laughter frozen in time.