That was when I stepped in, because there was one more thing that room needed to hear, and it was not about Ethan at all.

It was about Grace.

“Lauren,” I said quietly, crossing toward her.

“I need you to hear what Dr.

Harris told us.

Because you have been picturing something these last three days that is worse than the truth.” And I told her, gently, everything the specialist had said.

That the condition was, in Grace’s case, mild.

That with an early surgery and the right care, the doctors fully expected her to grow up healthy, and to live a full and ordinary and wonderful life.