Emily arrived early to the charity event and found Sylvia was already there with some company employees. Byron’s mother looked flawless in a midnight blue spaghetti-strap dress, her hair in a glamorous updo. She was giving everyone last-minute instructions when she spotted Emily.

“Well done, you!” Sylvia said, “I’m pleasantly surprised.”

Emily decided to roll with it since this was as nice a compliment as she was going to get. She was pretty proud of the ...