She paused, waiting for an answer that didn’t come.

“I’ll write a cashier’s check for twelve hundred dollars tomorrow morning,” Teresa added.

“You won’t have to file a single insurance claim.”

I stepped around the foot of Lily’s bed and stood right next to Mariana.

“Is the baby sleeping now?” Teresa asked gently.

“I cooked a pot of chicken and wild rice before I left the house, Mariana.

I can drop a warm dish off at the front desk for Noah.”

“Noah is sitting right here,” Mariana said, eyeing the phone like a coiled snake.