Don’t call anyone else.”

I held the edge of the door.

“They have severe behavioral issues,” he added.

He gave me a look that seemed to ask for agreement: difficult children, unfortunate household, an adult doing his best.

I thought of Maya pressing a finger to her lips.

“I’ll keep an eye out,” I said.

He remained on the porch long enough that I wondered whether he could hear my breathing.

Then he turned and went down the steps.