I can bring it to you if you’d like to read it.”

It was said with no heat at all, and it landed like a slap, and Sabina’s whole body went rigid.

“Pick up these toys,” she said.

“Take these two upstairs.

I have people coming at one and I am not having children underfoot.”

And then Lorelai, God help her, spoke.

Her voice came out thin and high and she reached out and got hold of the hem of Rosamund’s apron like a much younger child.

“We didn’t finish the chapter.”