Oliver took the cue and looked directly at Amala. “What do you want to do, my dear girl? Paulina’s offer is very kind and generous, and I can’t dispute her wisdom and insight. But what matters most to me is what you want to do. I know there are difficulties here that we can’t change or fix. And you know that running away from them will not change them. But sometimes distance can give a person perspective. You are at a time in your life when you need to learn who you really are inside and what you want to do with what you’ve been given, and . . . I suppose to be able to accept the limitations that are outside of our control.” He paused and sighed. “What is it that you want, Amala darling?”

Amala looked at her father a long moment and then at her mother, who nodded as if to echo her husband’s question and to express her agreement with all he’d said. Amala realized then that they’d all been concerned about her far more than they’d let on. And it seemed that Paulina’s directness was something they could all benefit from exemplifying.

“I want to go with her,” Amala said, trying not to betray just how enthusiastic she felt over the idea. She didn’t want them to think she wouldn’t miss them. She discreetly reached for Paulina’s hand beneath the table and squeezed it, expressing paragraphs' worth of gratitude for her insight and the opportunity she’d put before Amala. She felt an enormous burden lifted to think that Paulina wasn’t abandoning her; these travel plans had likely been motivated by Paulina’s insight in being able to see that some time away might be the best remedy for Amala, to give her a chance to heal, away from Henry and away from Kat’s desire to pursue marriage.

“Then you should go,” Oliver said.

“Yes,” Viola added, again dabbing at her eyes, “you should go. I don’t know what we’ll do without you, but it’s only temporary. And I agree that it would be good for you.”

“Then it’s settled,” Paulina declared with a little laugh. “We’ll be leaving before dawn tomorrow, so we’ve got a busy day ahead.”