In several, Chloe stood among volunteers wearing paper crowns, holding birthday cakes, or sitting at a table with children younger than she was.

“She never told me she came here,” I said.

“She thought you were carrying enough already,” Mrs.

Alvarez replied.

PART 5

Mrs.

Alvarez showed us a room with three reclining chairs, a battered coffee machine, a small refrigerator, and shelves of donated blankets.

“Parents sleep in here sometimes,” she explained.