“Where is Grandma?” she asked, her voice small and clear.

“Grandma had to go away for a while, sweetie,” Sarah said, kneeling down to her level.

“But Claire is going to take care of you.”

I knelt down too, my knees cold against the linoleum.

I didn’t reach out to grab her; I didn’t want to frighten her.

I just held out my hand, palm upward, waiting.

“Hi, Chloe,” I said, keeping my voice soft and steady despite the trembling in my chest.

“I’ve wanted to meet you for a very long time.”

She looked at my hand, then up at my face.

She saw the tears on my cheeks, and she reached out with a small, warm finger to touch one.

“Why are you crying?” she asked.

“Because I’m very happy,” I said.

She nodded once, a solemn, child-like gesture of acceptance.

Then, she reached down and picked up her yellow backpack, holding it by the top loop.

“I have my bear inside,” she said, pointing to the zipper.

“Good,” I said.

“He can ride in the front seat with us.”