Chapter 27

Lydia stared at the empty space by her side, stunned for a second before realizing-she'd totally said the wrong thing. She and Marianne had been getting closer recently. Marianne genuinely liked her and seemed pleased with her. That kind of approval had made Lydia a bit overconfident, making her too relaxed with her words. No matter how much Marianne resented Bellamy, that was still the daughter she carried for nine months. There was a kind of unspoken bond there, something not easily erased. And the Hawkins family-huge taboo. Total off-limits. Lydia felt frustrated with herself. Still too impulsive. The minute Bellamy showed up in conversation, she lost control of her emotions. Better to just play it safe from now on, act sweet and agreeable, and never bring up Bellamy around Marianne again. ***** The head of the department was a warm, approachable middle-aged man. Maybe having a young daughter at home made him extra soft toward girls like Bellamy. He looked after her the way an elder