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skill to help with.”

“Oh. Yes. I— I can do that. Make calls. Talk to people.”

“And check on Chloe?”

Christina nodded tightly. She pretended to be suddenly absorbed in

what one of the painters was doing and wandered away.

“Mom,” Chloe whispered when they were in the back room. It was

completely finished except for the flooring, which had yet to be installed.

The crew for that wouldn’t arrive until all the walls were finished.

“Yes?”

“That lady doesn’t like me. She looked at me funny.”

“She’s just stressed,” Taylor lied. “Anyone who doesn’t like you would

have to be insane.”

“No! Some people don’t like kids! My teacher told me that.”

“Well, geez. Maybe it’s not so much that people don’t like kids, but that

they’re not sure how to talk to them.”

“But we’re just tiny humans. You call me that all the time.”

“I know,” Taylor laughed. “Still. I think some people just need practice.

Don’t write her off immediately. She might get better as time goes on.” She

doubted that, but she didn’t want Chloe to think that she’d done something

wrong.

She set down the big backpack she’d packed. Inside there was an air

mattress, the little hand pump, the laptop, a stack of movies, some snacks,

water, a pillow, and a blanket. It was a big backpack, one made for hiking,

and Taylor had stuffed it full.

“She made it sound like I was a baby,” Chloe pouted while Taylor

blew up the air mattress.

“No, honey, that’s just because kids are supposed to be watched.”

“But— at the farm—”

“I know. Someone was always around, but not always with you.

There are rules about parenting and— uh— well— parents have to be with