The first pancake burned.

The second folded in half.

By the third, Willa declared I was improving.

Elena stood beside me with a spatula and taught me to wait for bubbles at the surface.

It was the most collaborative thing we’d done in years.

When Willa went to wash her hands, Elena said, “She feels safe here.”

“That’s all I wanted.”

“Not all,” she replied gently.