She did not need a private investigator to ask about her daughters.

For years, I still hoped the next event might be the one she chose.

A school play.

A birthday.

A recital.

A photograph of all six in the garden.

A note describing something ordinary and funny because I wanted her to remember that they were people, not a responsibility too large to think about.

I made copies when there was a risk the girls would lose the only version of something they had made.