None of it had been accidental.
Someone had chosen me.
Before I could speak, my phone rang.
It was my mother.
I answered with shaking hands.
"Mom?"
Her voice was barely audible.
"Sarah, are the children with you?"
My heart lurched.
"No. They're supposed to be with you."
A terrible silence followed.
Then my mother began sobbing.
"A man came to the house. He said Nigel sent him to take Lily for an eye examination."
I looked at my husband.
His face drained of color.
"Mom, what man?"
"He was older. He had gray hair. He said he was a doctor."
My heart hammered.
"Where's Lily?"
My mother began crying harder.
"He took her."
I couldn't breathe.
"What?"
"He showed me a medical authorization. It had Nigel's signature. I thought it was legitimate."
Nigel grabbed the edge of the table.
"No," he whispered.
My mother continued.
"Benjamin is here with me. But Lily went with the doctor."
