Maya cried because I had been standing too long without noticing she needed feeding.

Chloe brought me a cloth, and I thanked her, then told her to sit with her sisters rather than continue anticipating every need I might miss.

I did not tell the girls their mother was bad.

I also did not tell them she had only gone shopping when I knew that was not true.

“Mom has gone somewhere else to stay,” I said.

“You did nothing to make that happen.”