The little girl looked a bit puzzled, but her mom gently pulled her over.

"Hey, don't go calling people old, honey."

"But Uncle Rupert isn't old! And his wife probably isn't old either," the girl replied innocently.

Sylvia's cheeks flushed. She quickly pulled her hand free from Rupert's and managed an awkward smile.

The girl's mom gave Sylvia a knowing look-she clearly understood, but didn't say a word. Instead, she chuckled. "My husband and I run a little diner over by the university. You should come by sometime if you're free."

"Thanks, I'd love to," Sylvia replied, feeling a warmth in her chest. She had been right about them—they really were easy to get along with.

As the family of three walked away, Sylvia pressed her lips together, feeling like something important had settled, but not completely. There were still so many questions from her past life—if so much had gone on behind her back, who was she really supposed to blame for what happened to Stella and herself?

She turned to Rupert. "Uncle Rupert, what about Bridget and Caleb?"

"They're at the hospital," Rupert said flatly. "Bridget's face was badly injured, and her leg's broken. Caleb's in a coma. He also got fired for forging signatures and overprescribing meds to patients' families."

Sylvia's eyes widened. "Forging? Did he ever forge your signature?"

Rupert's eyes narrowed, suspicious. "How'd you know that?"

a calm expression, though her hands twisted nervously behind her back. "Just

signature -looked like he was practicing. Never actually used them, though. Maybe he was planning something. He did say he wanted me to raise

she'd been right. In her past life, Caleb was the

how did

her. Dry autumn leaves rustled in the breeze, and before she could look up, she noticed Rupert's scarf-a familiar one, with a little hole

had never worn that scarf again. Was he afraid

She tried to keep calm, but her hand reached out before she could stop herself. She poked at the hole, mumbling, "It's

grabbed her wrist. "What's that supposed to

Sylvia, startled, realized how

got a hole. I could knit you buy you a new one,

Rupert

at her. "You know how to

"No."

ever knitted

him, but his gaze was sharp,

one for me once, didn't you? Why

Sometimes, being around

it right. Back

scarves

But the day she was going to, Rupert announced he was dating

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