I cracked the door to their room open.

The nightlight cast a soft green glow across the twin beds.

Lily was awake.

She was sitting upright in her bed, her knees pulled tight to her chest.

Her eyes were wide and dark in the shadows.

“Lily?” I whispered, stepping inside.

She did not flinch, but she did not answer.

I sat on the edge of her mattress.

“Are you okay, sweetheart?”

She reached out and touched my sleeve.

Her fingers were cold.

“Is the bad lady coming?” she asked.

Her voice was so quiet I barely heard it over the rain.

“No,” I said, smoothing her hair.

“You are safe here.”

“She told us we were bad,” Lily said.

“She said that is why Daddy went away.”

My heart broke for the little girl.

“That is not true,” I said.

“Your daddy loved you very much.”

“And you are very good children.”

Owen stirred in the other bed, mumbling in his sleep.

He squeezed his teddy bear tighter against his chest.

“Where is Aunt Clara?” Lily asked.

“We are looking for her,” I said.