Ethan knew exactly what Ivy was thinking. He gently turned her hand to hold it firmly, then looked at Jasper Birch and said, “Uncle, I’ll take care of Ivy, I promise. She’s worried sick about Grandfather. Keeping her here, where she can feel involved, is better than sending her home to agonize in uncertainty.”

Jasper sighed deeply, clearly torn, but in the end, he relented, letting Ivy stay.

Ethan put a comforting arm around Ivy’s shoulder and placed a ...