“At this rate,” Ruby said quietly, her arms folded across her chest, “you know you’re going to break down before the test even begins, right?”

Desiree didn’t answer.

She was curled on the floor beside Adrian’s cot, one hand resting lightly against the wooden frame as she swayed it back and forth in a slow, repetitive motion. Her eyes were fixed on her son’s sleeping face, as if looking away for even a second might invite something terrible to happen.

It was the morning of the ...