I pulled Lucy’s yellow winter coat off the brass hook on the hall tree.

I didn’t take the time to pull my own heavy coat on over my cardigan.

I bundled Lucy into her coat, tugged her green wool hat down over her ears, and opened the heavy front door.

“Clara,” my mother called after me, her voice rising for the first time all night.

“Think about what you’re doing to your standing in this family.”

I stepped out onto the cold stone porch and pulled the door shut behind us without another word.