Giving Her to the Sea

After years of painful fertility treatments, Jess finally gives birth to a healthy son. But as the sedative pulls her under, she overhears her husband Ben and her brother Nate agree to maim her newborn — clipping his finger so that her adopted sister Rainey, whose own baby was born with a dark birthmark, will not feel inferior. When Jess wakes, Ben lies that the child was born with a congenital defect.

Jess finds her son abandoned on plastic chairs by the elevator, his tiny hand bandaged. Back in her room, Ben and Nate dote on Rainey, who offers Jess a gold bracelet and lock charm the men had blessed for her baby. Jess refuses, seeing the years of stolen rooms, gifts and even her engagement for what they were.

She phones a number she has not called in years and agrees to join a classified ten-year research project, on one condition: help her find the best pediatric reconstructive surgeon in the world, and arrange everything within seven days. She will take her son with her. Then Rainey lunges toward her.