I put the sentence in my notebook.

At the market, customers had begun hearing rumors.

A few tried to draw me into conversations about Laura.

I didn’t answer.

Denise put a small sign beside the register asking for privacy and treated curious strangers with her usual brisk kindness.

She also helped me arrange my work schedule so I could attend school meetings and be home when Emma returned in the afternoon.

The school counselor welcomed us into a room with small chairs and posters about kindness.