“Meeting was canceled,” Marcus said, evenly, and he looked past her, down the hallway.

“Lily.

Go grab your backpack.

We’re going to Grandma Evelyn’s.”

Sarah took a swift step toward him.

“Marcus, you can’t just disrupt her routine like this—” “Yes,” he said, “I can.” And at that moment Lily appeared from her bedroom, clutching her small canvas backpack tightly to her chest, and Marcus took her little hand in his, and the two of them walked out the door together, past Sarah, who was still constructing her objection about routines and stability.

Marcus did not argue with her.