WHEN THE THIRTEENTH NANNY WALKED INTO YOUR MANSION AND WHISPERED, “SHE’S STILL HERE,” YOUR SCREAMING TWINS WENT SILENT… AND THE WOMAN YOU HIRED TO CLEAN FLOORS ENDED UP EXPOSING THE SECRET IN YOUR NURSERY, SHATTERING YOUR GUILT, AND FORCING YOU TO FACE THE DEAD WIFE YOU NEVER REALLY LET GO

Martha gasped. You felt your whole body go hot with instant anger, the kind that comes fast when a stranger speaks aloud the thing you’ve been hiding from yourself in more expensive language for months. You took a step toward her.

“You don’t know anything about my wife.”

Helen did not flinch.

“No,” she said. “But I know what grief smells like when it’s rotting instead of healing. And these babies know it too.”

You stared at her.