I was glad she had someone who would not bring a mother’s fear into every question.

Sometimes she came home quiet.

Sometimes she wanted to talk.

Sometimes she wanted to sit beside me while I folded laundry and say nothing at all.

I learned not to ask, “Was it helpful?” every time she returned.

The question made her feel she had to provide a result.

One afternoon she asked whether I had ever been frightened at my old job.

“All the time.”