"Alright then, I'll go bake you a simple cake now. We'll save the more complicated recipe for tomorrow morning," Mrs. Watson finally relented. Hope nodded enthusiastically.

It wouldn't take long to give Gemma the medicine, just a minute or two, which was plenty of time.

As soon as Mrs. Watson left, Hope went back to Orion. "Hey, do you remember Gemma's little plush? The one that looks like a kitten? She used to love it."

"I remember," Orion replied, recalling the toy.

He had picked it out himself on a family outing to the toy store. He had known right away that Gemma would love it, and he was right. She couldn't part with it after they brought it home.

"The plush is hanging on the upstairs balcony. Why don't you bring it down? It might help her sleep more peacefully," Hope suggested, her tone full of concern for Gemma.

guessed that behind such an innocent demeanor was

that leaving Gemma alone would put her in danger. Trusting Hope's

pulled out the cork and took slow, deliberate steps toward Gemma. Gemma had been sleeping but awoke with a start at the sound. She began to

running whenever you cry," Hope

the bottle, prepared to pour the liquid into Gemma's mouth

grabbed Hope's arm, her voice cold and firm. "What do

wasn't doing anything," Hope stammered, startled. Her hand fell away from Gemma's mouth as Nina's grip tightened. With Gemma's mouth uncovered, she

to comfort her daughter She wrestled the bottle from Hope's hand, demanding, "What is this? If I hadn't come in, were you planning

bottle back, but as a child, she was

to cry, hoping her tears might

kitchen door Nash quickly turned off the stove, and without even taking off his apron,

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