I walked down the stairs, feeling determined to make the best of every situation today. I wondered, briefly, if Iris and I should go back home.

But then Audrey flew from around the corner from the first-floor bunk room. “I want to go on the beach!” she shrieked to me.

And I remembered how much being here felt safe and comforting. I decided I would be honest with Alice that we could go home. But I distinctly hoped she’d let us stay anyway.

“Me too! Me too!” Jamie chimed in, racing down the hall, already in her kindergarten jumper, Julie on her heels.

“Hi!” she said to me breathlessly but sunnily. “Audrey! There you are. We have to get you ready!”

I shook my head. “I’ll get her ready. You get to work. There’s nothing worse than being rushed.”

“I’ll take them to school!” Alice said, standing up from the living room couch. I hadn’t even seen her.

“I made lemon muffins!” Grace called from upstairs. She appeared on the landing, still in her flannel pajamas, toothbrush in hand. “Grab one on your way out. They are divine, if I do say so myself.”

Julie kissed my cheek and then Grace’s. “The two of you are angels from heaven. I swear that you are. I can’t live without you, and I love you so.” She rushed out.

“I need milk,” Audrey said, studying my face. “So I can grow big and strong.” She flexed her muscles.

Organic milk and butter from a local farm were the only non-vegan items Grace allowed in her kitchen. She believed the fat was good for little brains and the probiotics were good for all our bellies. After growing up in the fat-free era, I still found it surprising that all that whole-fat milk was now considered good for us. But things were always changing. I was Exhibit A.

Speaking of change, Iris was helping Brenna butter her muffin and Jamie up on a stool. She peeled a banana for Jamie and handed it to her. She had slid right into this crazy world.

I kissed Iris, who was all ready for school in her plaid skirt and white blouse, picking blueberries out of the communal bowl of fruit salad.

I smelled Merit before I saw him. Teenage boys and their cologne… Emma was hot on his heels. I could tell she was smitten with Iris, already worshipping the ground she walked on. Merit pulled Iris’s ponytail playfully, and the two older girls rolled their eyes at each other. But Iris blushed.

“Do you have your lunch?” I asked.

“Yes, ma’am,” Iris said. She brightened. “Look at what Grace made me!” She opened a bento box with what appeared to be pinwheel veggie and hummus wraps, fruit skewers, potato wedges, and cookies that were, no doubt, homemade. That irked me, but I didn’t have time to feel irritated right now.

“Homework?”