Francesca went home.

Mrs. Carter had been worried sick about her and hadn’t slept well all night. The moment she saw Francesca back, she personally brewed hot tea and sat down with her, talking like mother and daughter used to.

When they talked about Jaden, Francesca was happy—and aching at the same time.

She said to Mrs. Carter, “He and Serena were born in the same pregnancy, but he’s a whole head shorter than Serena. And he’s so thin. It’s ...