She hurries over to her toy boxes, and I look around some more, my hands in my pockets. Everything in this room is top quality. From the furniture to the clothes to the books, Alice has spared no expense when it comes to Mira. It’s obvious that she dotes on her. But something bothers me.
As I watch Mira set up the chessboard, I ask, “What did you mean when you said your mother thinks you should play easier games?”
Mira shrugs nonchalantly. “Mom said I shouldn’t be so smart. Other kids might not like it.”
I absorb this small bit of information and tuck it away for later use. I’m not in a position to make any decisions about Mira. Alice is skittish enough as it is; she was hesitant even to let me see our daughter. If Mira were my only goal, I could probably be a little more forceful, but
