I saw Harper’s face change before I heard her answer.

“She had a little accident.

You weren’t there.”

Eliza set the tray down.

“She isn’t responding.”

“Please don’t make yourself part of a family dispute,” Brenda said.

The words were soft enough to sound polite to everyone except the person receiving them.

Eliza looked at me, then at the child holding my hand.

She was young, and she had been employed in the house for only five weeks.

I saw her calculate the risk of losing work she needed.

Then she reached toward the pocket where she kept her phone.

Wyatt rose at last, not to help me, but to step between Eliza and the hall.

“I’ve got this.

Go home.