Alexander watched silently.
His son had refused nearly everything the hotel staff had offered him.
But now he was drinking milk from a stranger’s hand.
Hannah waited until Oliver lowered the glass.
“There,” she murmured. “You don’t have to stop being sad. Just breathe a little.”
Oliver drew a shaky breath.
“Mommy used to say that.”
Alexander went completely still.
Hannah smiled sadly.
“She sounds like she was very kind.”
“She was.”
Oliver looked down at the milk.
“Do you think she’s mad at me?”
Hannah’s smile disappeared.
“Why would she be mad at you?”
The little boy’s lower lip trembled.
“Because I made her go away.”
Behind him, Alexander slowly rose from his chair.
“What?”
Oliver seemed not to hear him.
He looked directly into Hannah’s eyes.
“Aunt Caroline said Mommy wouldn’t have died if I hadn’t asked her to bring my teddy bear.”
The glass nearly slipped from Hannah’s fingers.
Alexander took a step forward.
“Oliver.”
The boy turned.
His expression was filled with terror.
“I’m sorry, Daddy.”
Alexander stared at him.
“Sorry for what?”
