Her small body began to shake.
Martha noticed instantly.
That fear…
It wasn’t normal.
After Vanessa left, Sophie gently tugged on Martha’s sleeve.
She glanced nervously toward the doorway.
Then whispered so softly Martha barely heard her.
“I don’t like them.”
Martha frowned.
“What don’t you like, sweetheart?”
“The vitamins…”
“Why?”
Tears gathered in Sophie’s eyes.
Her voice trembled.
“Because… they make my tummy burn… every night…”
A chill shot through Martha’s entire body.
She turned toward the bedside table.
Several small bottles sat there.
No labels.
No prescription markings.
Odd colored liquids.
And only Vanessa ever touched them.
Something inside Martha screamed.
Something was terribly wrong.
That night Martha couldn’t sleep.
Fear settled deep in her chest.
Because in her heart…
She was beginning to suspect something horrifying.
And what she would soon uncover…
Would put both her life and Sophie’s in danger.
The next morning Martha waited carefully.
Until Vanessa left for a bridal fitting.
Until Nathan disappeared into his office.
Then, with her heart pounding wildly, Martha slipped into Sophie’s room.
The little girl was asleep.
Breathing softly.
As if even resting exhausted her.
Martha moved to the nightstand.