The next morning she went to Teresa’s house with a bag of groceries, then stopped on the porch and realized the house was still empty.

The bag seemed absurd in her hands.

She left it with a local family support nonprofit instead, asking that it be given to Eli’s temporary caregiver if appropriate.

The volunteer asked for her name so the donation could be recorded.

“Just say a neighbor,” Darlene answered.

Across town, Eli was getting to know June Mercer, the cousin listed on his school’s emergency contact sheet.

The hospital and child protection team had located her in Arizona, verified their relationship, and assessed her suitability to care for him temporarily.