Cara began pacing and brought her hands to her face as a solution took root. It would break her heart to separate from her daughter for two weeks, but what choice did she have? Cara stopped walking. Hope had to leave the house. The answer was simple. Tomorrow, she’d make plans. There’d be pushback, but she had to be strong for all of them.

Cara brought her fingers to her head and scratched vigorously—then, dropping her arms, felt sleepiness ebb slowly through her body. Her eyelids felt heavy. Her decision made, she could finally go to sleep.

Tomorrow, she would call Linnea.

LINNEA OPENED THE front door to find Cara, wearing her mask, half-hidden by a large bouquet of flowers.

“Cara! What a surprise. Come in!”

“Is this a bad time?” Cara asked.

Linnea tightened her pink robe at the waist, embarrassed to be caught still in her pajamas at 10 a.m. Cara looked positively chipper in black jeans, a jacket over her tee, and white tennis shoes.

“It’s never a bad time to see you.” Linnea stepped aside, giving Cara a wide berth to enter. “I’m feeling like I’m in limbo. I can’t go to work, and I can’t go shopping or to a restaurant. I’m not used to being stuck at home. So, believe me, seeing you is a treat.” She laughed shortly with self-deprecation. “If in my pajamas.”

“I know it’s early and I didn’t call. I barely slept last night.” Cara stretched out her arms. “These are for you.”

Linnea accepted them, surprised by the gesture. “What did I do to deserve these? I should be giving you flowers. You’re the one who bailed me out.”

“I’m about to ask you to bail me out too.”

Linnea paused, then said, “Want some coffee?”

Cara shook her head. “I’d love some, but I can’t stay. Hope is in the car. I can’t leave her home because David isn’t feeling well. He’s in quarantine.”

Linnea felt her blood drain and knew a moment’s fear for her own well-being. “Is it the coronavirus?”

“We don’t know for sure. There are no tests and the doctor told him to go into quarantine, just in case. Don’t worry, he kept his distance from the moment he arrived home and went straight into our room and closed the door. He’s going to stay in the master bedroom and I’ll stay in the guest room on the other side of the house.”

Cara paused to take a breath, and Linnea readied herself for the but that she knew was coming.

“But… and here comes the ask,” Cara said. “I’m worried about Hope. She’s at risk because of the measles last year. I’ve been up all night thinking about this, and I called her pediatrician this morning, just to make sure I’m not being an alarmist. She agrees that we should take extra precautions for Hope. So…” Cara took a breath. “Would you please consider letting Hope live with you for the two weeks that David is in quarantine?”