He and Lucy were at the farmer’s market downtown, weaving through stalls of apples, honey jars, and knitted scarves. Lucy was chatting with a woman about homemade fudge when Kevin caught sight of her standing by the flower stall, clutching a bouquet of daisies. The same girl.
This time, he moved quickly. He left Lucy with the fudge vendor and hurried over.
“Hey!” he called. “Wait—please!”
The girl turned, alarm flashing across her face. For a second, he thought she’d run again, but instead she stood frozen, clutching the daisies like a shield. Up close, the resemblance was even more unnerving. She could have been Lucy’s twin.
“I’m sorry,” Kevin said gently, sensing her fear. “I didn’t mean to scare you. I just—do we know each other?”
She shook her head quickly. “No.”
“Your name?” he asked.
She hesitated. “Lila.”
Kevin’s mouth went dry. Lila. A name so close to Lucy it felt deliberate.
Before he could ask more, a woman appeared at her side. She was in her late thirties, with auburn hair pulled into a bun and sharp features softened by a tired expression. She put a protective arm around the girl.
