Don't Go by Lisa Scottoline

the monitor.
    “It happens.” Danielle rose, smoothing down her sweater, her eyes twinkling. “Shall we try again?”

 
    Chapter Eleven
    Emily wailed at the top of her lungs, clinging to Danielle as she stood at the entrance to the family room. The baby had burst into tears at the sight of Mike, who had walked over to her, holding out his arms.
    “Danielle, what did I do wrong?” Mike stopped, his arms falling to his sides. “I was just happy to see her.”
    “She didn’t expect to see you. You’re new, and babies don’t like new people, especially around this age.”
    “What about this age?”
    “At seven months, their stranger anxiety is strongest, and she got introduced to you in the worst way, last night in the dark. Go back to the couch and give her time to get used to the idea that you’re here.”
    Emily cried harder, her eyes as red as her holiday romper, which had an embroidered penguin in a Santa hat. Her hair looked damp at the scalp, under a headful of dark blonde curls.
    “Okay.” Mike backed up to the couch and kept smiling. “Hi, Emily, hello, Emily.” He kept his voice soft and sweet. “It’s Daddy, honey. How’s my baby girl?” He didn’t know whether to sit or stand, so he popped up and down like a suburban jack-in-the-box. “Did you have a nice nap?”
    Danielle rocked the hysterical baby. “Aw, sweetie, it’s okay, that’s your Daddy, and he just wants to say hello.”
    “Don’t be afraid, Emily.” Mike looked around, picked up a toy dog, and gave it a kiss. “See the dog? You like dogs, don’t you? I like dogs.”
    “Put that down. She hates that toy.”
    “Oops, sorry.” Mike dropped the dog, flustered. “What toy does she like?”
    “The bunny, the pink.”
    “A bunny, yay!” Mike picked up the bunny and stroked its fuzzy head. “Look, Emily, I’m a nice guy. I come in peace.”
    “Emily, see your bunny?” Danielle tried to put a pacifier in Emily’s mouth, but she wouldn’t take it, crying full bore. “Here, have your binky.” Suddenly the doorbell rang, and Danielle looked over. “Hang on, I’ll be right back.”
    “Sure.” Mike flopped on the couch, hearing the wailing subside as soon as they left the room. He tossed the bunny aside and remembered how he used to hold Emily all the time. She would look up at him, sucking her pacifier. She even used to fall asleep on his chest.
    “Mike, Sara’s here!” Danielle called to him, and Mike stood up as she came back holding a teary Emily, sucking on her pacifier. They lingered at the threshold of the family room while a grief-stricken Sara entered the room and crossed to Mike, opening her arms in her thick wool coat.
    “Oh, Mike, I’m so sorry about Chloe.”
    “I’m sorry, too, for you.” Mike hugged her close, and Sara made a short, bulky bundle in his arms, sagging against him, drawing strength from him. She and Chloe had been best friends from their first year teaching, and Mike found himself in a solar system that revolved around Chloe, but the sun was missing.
    “I still can’t believe it, can you?” Sara released him, tears filling her large eyes, as brown as chocolate syrup. Her hair was almost the same color, cut at her chin, and her thin lips quivered with emotion. “She should be here. She would’ve been so happy to see you. It’s good that you’re safe, thank God.”
    “Thanks, but it’s so strange, isn’t it? You and me, but not her?”
    “I know, I miss her, so much.” Sara blinked her tears away and moved a strand of hair from her roundish cheek. “I’m not making this easier on you, am I?”
    “You don’t have to make it easy.” Mike managed a smile for her. “It’s not easy. It’s impossible.”
    “That’s how I feel, too. Chloe was my best friend, since forever. I knew her before Don. She even knew my parents.” Sara wiped her eyes with her palm, like a little girl. “Nobody at school can believe it. They all loved her, and Sue, Allison, and Michelle are