“It’s okay, honey. I know.”

And then Frances was asleep.

When Joan got downstairs, Barbara was sitting at the kitchen table drinking a glass of wine. She looked absolutely gorgeous. Her dark hair blown out, her blue dress cinched at her waist. Her lipstick was a little faded but deep red. Joan could see that Frances was going to grow up to look a lot like her. That Frances would have that same glamour to her one day.

“Where the hell have you been?” Joan asked her.

“Oh, don’t even get me started,” Barbara said. “After the day I’ve had.”

“The day you’ve had?”

“I called you ten different times from LaGuardia Airport, Joan,” she said. “I missed my flight. What did you want me to do? I had to get on the four o’clock.”

“I want you to make sure your kid isn’t abandoned at school,” Joan said, trying to keep her voice down.

“Well, maybe you should hook up the goddamn answering machine I bought you for Christmas!”

“The school secretary is on a first-name basis with Frances, did you know that? They have gotten into the habit of doing crossword puzzles together because of how often Frances is left there.”

Barbara shook her head. “Here we go again, gearing up to recite the litany of ways you and Frances are both better than me—”

“I’m not—”

“No, please, do enlighten me. It’s not enough that you were so perfect our entire childhood that if I made a single mistake, I looked like a screwup. And now our parents can tell everyone you’re an astronaut and I’m nothing. Apparently, you also know better than me how to be a mom. Lovely. Please, tell me. I’m desperate to learn from Saint Joan.”

Joan grabbed her jacket.

“She’s hurting, Barbara,” Joan said. “She misses you.”

“She’s fine,” Barbara said. “Frances is special. Even though I’m sure you can’t see that.”

“Of course I see that.”

“Mom says she’s an old soul. She’s capable of handling more than most girls her age.”

Joan shook her head. “Good night, Barb. Do not do this again. I’m behind on my flying hours as it is. I can’t be blowing off entire afternoons.”

“Sorry,” she said. “Here I was thinking family is the most important thing. I’ll remember that’s not true for you, next time.”

Joan slammed the door and then instantly regretted it, worried she’d woken Frances up. She walked to her car, calming herself down as best she could, but then jamming her foot on the gas to peel away from the curb.

When she got home, she was up past midnight installing her answering machine.