stepped inside carrying her purse.
She looked first at Daniel.
Then at the babies.
Her eyes rested on Leo.
“I heard they were safe,” she said.
Daniel stood.
“Mom.”
Vivian smiled at him.
“May I see them?”
“You can look from there.”
She stopped beside the chair.
“I came to make sure everything was settled.”
I moved the water cup closer to me.
“Nothing needs settling today.”
Vivian touched the front of her cardigan, then let her hand fall.
“I would think after what we discussed, you might have reconsidered.”
Daniel glanced at me.
“Mom, not now.”
Vivian kept her attention on me.
“You said you wanted to think.”
“I did.”
“And?”
“I decided.”
She waited.
I did not fill the silence.
Vivian looked toward the bassinet again.
“You understand what this means for the Sterling family.”
I looked at Leo.
“I understand what it means for me.”
Her mouth
