Snow lay in thin banks along the sidewalks, and the trees were bare against a pale sky.

Piper held one hand in each of ours.

She didn’t ask us to stand close together.

She simply walked between us, setting the pace.

Near the park she stopped and looked up at Whitney.

“Mommy, you believe me now?”

Whitney knelt in the snow, ignoring the wet hem of her coat.

“Yes, Piper.