“You’re – are you –?” Ellen stopped herself from saying again. Micheline had delivered her latest daughter this past summer, a week after Ellen arrived.
“Congratulations, Micheline,” Benjamin said, coming over and crouching beside her, taking her hand. “Every child is a blessing.”
“Yes, congratulations,” Ellen said. For the first time since she lost Safra, she felt warm wishes toward another pregnant woman. She sat in the chair with the cut-out heart, the one William had made and placed at the table before she arrived here. William had known how to welcome her. Micheline made her feel as if she lived in this house, not Ellen. Already, Micheline was up again, getting molasses for Benjamin’s tea. Whenever Micheline visited, she would rearrange the dishes and food the way she liked them,
