To Lyla, it all finally made sense—why Alina had avoided telling her the kindergarten name, why she had been so secretive. Shame pricked her heart as she realized she had doubted her niece, her sensible, hardworking Alina. She swallowed hard, lowering her gaze.
Lyla took meek steps toward Alina, her face still pale from everything she had just discovered. Slowly, she reached out and clasped her niece's hands with trembling fingers. "I'm sorry, Lina… I should never have doubted you," she whispered, her voice heavy with guilt. "You've always been a sensible little girl. I don't know what came over me."
