Iris nodded, her mouth full of muffin.

“Charlotte, I can take Iris to school,” Merit said. “Emma and I have to go anyway.”

I tried to ignore how Iris’s face lit up.

Under ordinary circumstances, I wouldn’t have let Iris ride around with a sixteen-year-old boy. But these weren’t normal circumstances.

“Well, that would be amazing, Merit. Because I, for one, have a full day of…” I paused dramatically. “Job interviews!”

“Yay, Mom!” Iris said.

“Go, Charlotte,” Merit said.

Brenna and Jamie broke out in applause right as Grace reappeared in the kitchen, dressed, toothbrush nowhere to be seen. “I have tons of errands to run today. Why don’t I drive you to your interviews?”

“Oh, I couldn’t ask you to do that.…”

“I insist,” Grace said.

“We’re here to help!” Alice sang.

Did this really work? It seemed like it. Crazy. But I guessed under this roof, you knew when someone did something for you, it was coming back your way.

I smiled. “Okay. Well, if you’re sure, I’ll take you up on it.”

“Good luck, Mom!” Iris said.

“Okay, okay!” Alice said. “Morning mommune meeting time!”

The kids rolled their eyes, but they all congregated.

“Middle school and high school drop-off?” she asked.

“Me!” Merit said.

“Elementary school drop-off, me,” Alice said. Then she asked, “Pickup?”

“Charlotte and I have elementary school pickup at two forty and Emma at three, and Merit has post-sports,” Grace said.

Merit nodded in agreement.

“Lunches?” Alice asked.

Six lunch boxes went up in the air.

“Computers?”

Five hands went to computers in their backpacks, and Emma said, “Oh, shoot!” and dashed upstairs.

“Water bottles?”

Brenna grimaced and ran around to grab hers from beside the sink, but the others gave Alice a thumbs-up.

“Yay!” Grace said. “Love you all! Have a fabulous day and learn a lot!” She kissed Emma’s cheek as she flew back up the stairs.

“Let’s go, middle and high school crew,” Merit finished.

“I love you, little girl!” I said to Iris, kissing her on the cheek.

“Mo-om,” she said, pulling away from me.

I’d take that as she loved me too.

“Charlotte, let’s get our stuff and I’ll meet you down here in five for interview domination!” Grace said.

In a flurry of backpacks and car keys, they were all gone.