“I can help you with math and English and French and Spanish. I cannot help you with Russian and Chinese.” I walked over to the table and picked up her math sheet. “You don’t need me for this. It’s easy.”

“I know.” Juleen sat down and picked up a pencil. “Can you sit with me?”

“I can and I will.” I sat down, picked up her small hand, and kissed it. “I love you so much, priya. I’m so sorry for everything!”

She squeezed my hand. “I’m happy now that you’re here.”

“I’m happy too.” A pause. “So happy.” I looked around. “Do you ever get out of this room?”

“I still can’t walk that well.”

“Ah, yes. How is your ankle?”

“Much better.” She looked at me. “When it’s healed, can we go for walks?”

“I would love that, Juleen.”

She looked down. “Have you spoken to Father?”

“No, priya.”

“What about Sanjay?”

“Not him either. I think he’s with Father.” I paused. “Would you like to go back home to Father when it’s safe?”

“No!” Adamant. “I love Father, but he doesn’t understand me.”

“It’s hard for fathers to understand daughters.”

“He’s very old-fashioned.”

“That is true. It has good points and bad points.”

“I want to stay with you.”

“And I want to stay with you too.”

“Have you spoken to Sanjay?”

Second time she asked that. “No, I haven’t. Maybe when I’m better, I can call Father.” I pointed to the math sheet. “Let’s pay attention to what we can control, okay?”

She squeezed my hand again. “I love you, Mommy.”

“I love you, too.”

By the time Chris came back with the food, she had finished all her lessons except her Chinese and Russian homework. I couldn’t even read it, let alone help her. He set the take-out boxes on the table. Curry for Juleen and oatmeal for me.

I said, “Smells good.”

“You want some of mine, Mommy?” Juleen offered. “It’s pretty soft.”

“Maybe in a few days. Right now, I’m very happy with my oatmeal.” Chris picked up her completed papers. I said, “Why is she learning Chinese and Russian?”

“She knows Hindi and English. With Chinese and Russian, she can communicate anywhere in the world.”

“Do you know Chinese and Russian?”

“Enough to get by.” He looked at me. “Did you help her with the French?”

“No. It’s been years since I’ve taken French.”

“You used to tutor me.”

“Also years ago.”

“I speak it pretty well. By the way, I’ve got your phones. I’ll charge them up and give them to you tomorrow.”

“Thank you so much, Chris,” I told him. “Thank you for everything.”

To Juleen, Chris said, “You don’t need help for this.”

“I don’t know all the words in the lesson.”

“That’s why I bought you big dictionaries. Don’t be lazy.”