One afternoon I came home and found Maya at her drawing table with a new commission on the screen.

A children’s publisher wanted a series of plant illustrations.

She looked nervous as she showed me the email.

“They want six drawings,” she said.

“Real work.

Paid work.”
“That’s wonderful.”
“It is.

And I’m afraid I won’t manage.”
“Then we’ll arrange the time you need.

We’ll figure out childcare together.”
She nodded slowly.