Sophie set the laundry hamper in the trunk of her blue sedan and pushed her state university parking permit higher on the rear windshield.

She turned around and wrapped both arms around my neck, pulling me into a tight, lingering hug.

“Thank you for keeping us grounded through all of this, Mom,” she whispered against my denim jacket.

“Your father did the hardest work, Sophie,” I said, smoothing a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

“He fought every day to shield this family.”

Sophie pulled back, twisting her silver class ring around her thumb as she looked up at the sunny kitchen window.