She had two teenagers, a dog named Pepper, and a guest bedroom decorated with a faded quilt.

When Hailey was two, this was where she had stayed during the week Claire died.

She recognized the quilt before Rachel even turned on the lamp.

“Can Pepper sleep here?” she asked.

“If he doesn’t steal your blanket,” Rachel said.

Pepper immediately curled on the rug beside her bed.

I tucked Hailey in and waited until her breathing grew steady.

Then I went into Rachel’s kitchen, where she had put a mug of tea in front of me.