"No, I..." She shook her head. "I know you don't look at my sister as a threat. Even if you did, you're fair enough that she hasn't been treated any less where she is. It's all right." It had been long enough. She wasn't angry with him for taking Bethany, not when her sister didn't put up a fight. She'd thought long enough about it.

"I would have wanted her to stay. It's wishful thinking, but I would." She shrugged. "But she's safe where she is and happier for it. I won't deny that. If we had fought, it only would have been harder on her in the end." Even if it had broken her mother to lose Bethany, at least she'd been alive. At least they would know if anything happened to her. Not many could claim that as a gift, but after losing Carver, she did.