Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

When the Lippert family saw the infant incubator wheeled into the foyer-

Under the glass dome was a tiny, rosy little body, barely bigger than a bottle of Sprite, so thin and pale. Her tiny face was flushed with effort, as if she were straining to take in the world beyond the glass. Her wide, lonely eyes-round and dark-looked just like Whitney's.

The whole Lippert family fell silent, struck by how delicate and small she was.

Camilla gripped her cane tighter, her breathing uneven. She recalled what Ludwik had said about the child's difficult beginnings...

Suddenly, Camilla had no more doubts.

Her eyes, usually sharp with age, now glistened with tears. She didn't dare touch the incubator, but her voice trembled with emotion. "It's chilly outside-let's hurry and bring her in where it's warm.”

Natalie's gaze was complicated as she looked at the baby. She felt a rush of tenderness for the little one.

She stepped forward and, together with Riley Lippert's wife, carefully lifted the incubator. They didn't need the doctor's help; the two women carried the baby inside to the living room.

That's when Ludwik stepped out of the car.

A small, relieved smile played on his lips, the kind you wear after a long storm has passed. “Grandma, it's a heated incubator. The little one will be just fine."

Danny hugged Camilla's arm, his tone sweet and insistent. "My baby

family-curiosity, concern, maybe suspicion-but

wasn't

questions, "She can drink milk now, and she'll start

inside and get some rest,"

called back to Sandy,

at the car door. He opened it for Sandy, then reached in and gently lifted

frowned, annoyed at how

she scooped her daughter into her

had been cramped and awkward, tension thick in the air. Shane hadn't said a word,

muttered under her breath, "I'll take care of Tina. Go do your own thing if you

long lashes, casting delicate shadows over her

grunted softly, "Alright. I'll find you

to find me." She took a step

of a smirk on his lips. "And how are we supposed to hand off Tina, then? You want her to feel embarrassed

Tina's friends might

together and fell silent, clutching her daughter as she hurried after Whitney. Tina, just four, was delicate and clung to her, making it hard for Sandy to walk straight. Still, she refused to det