“Someone looking for a different house,” I lied.

She accepted the answer without question.

Then she placed a drawing in front of me.

It showed four stick figures.

Two were standing together.

Two were floating above them, surrounded by stars.

“That’s you and me,” she explained. “And those are Mommy and Daddy watching us from heaven.”

My throat tightened.

“It’s beautiful, sweetheart.”

She climbed into the chair beside me.

“Grandma?”

“Yes?”

“Do you think our family will ever be bigger?”

I looked at her.

“What do you mean?”

She hugged her rabbit.

“Other kids have aunts and uncles and cousins. I love living with you, but sometimes I wish we had more people.”

I pulled her close.

“I know, darling.”

She leaned against my shoulder.

“Maybe someday?”

I didn’t answer.

Instead, I looked toward the velvet pouch.

For the first time, I wondered whether keeping Ellie away from Claire’s relatives would protect her or deprive her of something she’d been missing.