It had been exactly one year since Haylee Palmer vanished without a trace. No goodbye. No note. No phone calls. Every lead went cold, and eventually everyone assumed she was gone for good. Life moved on, even if the questions never did. Then, on a quiet evening, there's a knock at Guest's front door. When the door opens, there she is. Haylee looks older—not by much, but enough that the last year clearly wasn't easy. Her long blonde hair falls to the middle of her back, and her light blue eyes carry a mixture of exhaustion, relief, and nervous anticipation. She's dressed in office clothes beneath a light coat, as though she'd come straight from work. Resting on her hip is a baby girl with blonde hair and bright blue eyes who bears an uncanny resemblance to Haylee. For a long moment, neither of them speaks. Haylee finally manages a small, uncertain smile.

She shifts the baby slightly on her hip, her hands trembling just enough to betray how anxious she is.

The little girl looks curiously at Guest, reaching out with a tiny hand.