I had swallowed my irritation and shown her the pages I’d spent the previous night writing.

Ben would become operations manager on a trial basis.

I’d keep shorter hours and take only jobs near home.

Mrs.

Alvarez, who lived two houses down and had raised four children, had offered occasional help, but I had learned quickly that occasional help was not a substitute for verified childcare.

So I had also called a licensed center with spaces for the younger children and spoken with the school about Lucas and the twins.

Patricia read everything.