‘Anna.’

For a second we didn’t know whether to hug.

Then she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around me so tightly that the dish between us nearly fell.

Lucas watched from the hall.

Anna crouched to his level and introduced herself without asking for affection.

Within an hour, she was helping Nora string popcorn and listening to Eli describe a complicated imaginary train system.

Sophie offered her the purple-eared rabbit, which was the greatest honor available in our house.