The Stranger Inside

“I’d feed her, but it doesn’t look like you pumped any milk?” he said from the hallway.

She sat in the glider. “It’s okay,” she said. “Try to get a little more sleep.”

Greg hovered a moment, dropped a hand on her shoulder, then left the room.

“Are you hungry, little bunny?” she asked.

Lily gurgled happily, looking up into Rain’s eyes. The baby’s gaze was deep and alert, smiley. Rain felt as if she could see all the layers of the girl, the woman her daughter would become. Smart, sweet, brave, full of mischief and questions.

The sun was lighting the sky from beneath the horizon. How long had Rain been in her office looking at images of murder and death, misery and loss? Must have been nearly three hours. Lily cooed, then latched on. Rain rocked them back and forth, back and forth, thinking of the man in the hawk mask.