“You can ask them when they’re old enough to care about accounting certificates.”

That was the first time I understood how much freedom could live inside a simple answer: You can ask.

PART 23

The children turned two on a spring morning warm enough for a picnic.

We celebrated at a park beside a creek, with paper boats, a blanket and the smallest cake Ruth could persuade a bakery to make.

Hazel, now strong enough to race short distances on determined little legs, insisted on carrying her own cup.

Mason shouted “Truck!” whenever he saw a delivery van.