She shrugged.

“Everyone has a mom and dad.

I have a dad, but sometimes people ask who my real one is.” I drew two circles on a sheet of paper, one labeled family and one labeled people who care for us.

We filled the circles with names: Elena, Ms.

Bennett, Brooke when she showed kindness, our neighbor who watered Chloe’s plants, and Marianne, who had helped us meet.

I put my own name next to hers inside both circles.