“How are you?” Queen Amaya looks down at Isabela and fusses with the bow in her hair. She is looking at Isabela but she’s talking to me.

“Considering the overwhelming circumstances,” I say and see a small smile on her face, “I’m doing well. How are you?”

“Considering the overwhelming circumstances,” Queen Amaya uses my phrase and she looks up at me, “as best as I can be.” The Queen looks beautiful for the coronation but I can tell that the past week has ...