“She’s going to be fine,” he said. “Whoever got to her first did exactly what needed to be done.”
He turned to Jamie.
“Where did you learn infant first aid?”
S-O-_-H-I-E.
“My class.”
I stared at him.
“Your class?”
“Tuesday and Thursday. Infant CPR.” He rubbed his neck. “That’s why I got the doll. I practice on it.”
It all clicked at once. The bag. The it’s a surprise.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“That’s why I got the doll. I practice on it.”
“I didn’t want anyone laugh.” He looked at Claire and added. “You said I’m not safe.”
She opened her mouth. Nothing came out.
“So I learn to be safe.”
He swallowed.
“I thought maybe then you let me hold Sophie.”
Claire’s face crumpled.
“So I learn to be safe.”
“You told me,” she whispered, looking at me. “You told me about the beads, and I…”
