Anna nodded, though her frown lingered as she stared at the baby, who lay swaddled and asleep in the bassinet nearby. James couldn’t shake Anna’s words. They stayed with him, a quiet echo that grew louder in the quiet hours of the night. One evening, as he rocked the baby to sleep, he found himself staring at her tiny face.
She was beautiful, there was no doubt about that—her delicate features and soft, downy hair framed by the glow of the lamp. But the hair. It caught the light in fiery strands, a stark contrast to the golden tones of his and Susy’s. He reached out, brushing his fingers lightly over her head.