Although it was half past seven o’clock in the morning, long after she typically awoke on a Monday, she was taking the entire week off from her job at the clinic. She could exercise at her leisure and ask her mother to tend to the children if they awoke. Troy had already left for work.

As she pulled on her sweat pants, she winced. Since she’d gotten out of bed, her joints had felt stiff, tender. Her body felt as if she had over-trained, but that was absurd. She hadn’t exercised in over a week, since she’d gotten the news about Lily, and had done nothing that would have caused such physical discomfort.

It required a major effort of will to make her way downstairs. Each stair sent a spike of pain through her tendons.

Grace was in the breakfast nook (when did she ever sleep?) sipping tea and perusing her leather-bound journal. Her mother somehow looked even better than she ever had before: skin bright, eyes shining, and hair a bit longer and darker than it had appeared yesterday.

I need to take whatever she’s taking, Monica thought. She looks absolutely terrific.

Grace smiled at her entrance. “Morning, darling.”

“More gray this morning.” Monica sadly pulled at a strand of hair.

“So sorry.” Grace clucked her tongue. “Dark and Lovely is your best resort, my dear. The product has always worked well for me. I’ve some in my luggage if you’d like to use it.”

“Thanks, but I’ll probably pick up my own supply later today. At the rate I’m graying, I’m going to need it.”

“A woman’s prerogative.” Grace raised her teacup. “Would you like a cup of tea?”

“Thanks, but I’m going to try to work out this morning. Can you listen out for the kids, please?”

Monica planned to use their home gym in the basement, but before that, she wanted to complete a brisk walk around their neighborhood. Navigating the ever-shifting terrain of paved roads was always more challenging than any treadmill, though with her body in its present, strangely sore condition, a cushioned walk on a machine might have been better for her.

Regardless, she headed outdoors. The sun was still making its early morning ascent into a sky partially quilted with thin clouds, and the air was crisp and cool, the temperature hovering in the low fifties. She zipped up her fleece jacket all the way to the collar, and ambled down the walkway, to the sidewalk.

The neighborhood was quiet. Many of the residents had already left for work, and the public school buses would have had their morning pick-ups a short while ago. The only other person out was a blonde woman jogging, her Golden Retriever trotting at her side.