Lily nodded.“I yelled really loud.”
“You certainly did. I’m grateful you spoke up.”
Emma looked at me.
“Were you sleeping?”
“No. I was very ill, and I couldn’t answer people properly.”
She considered that explanation.
“I’m glad you’re better.”
“So am I.”
I paused before continuing.
“You should know that you weren’t responsible for fixing everything. The adults who came to help, the paramedics, and the hospital staff all played important parts. You did what you could safely do, and that was enough.”
Lily returned her attention to the book.
“Grandma says we should get a grown-up if somebody needs help.”
“Your grandma is right.”
“And we don’t go off with strangers,” Emma added.
“She’s right about that, too.”
The conversation moved to school, animals, and whether a penguin would be happy living in someone’s house. For a while, I forgot about board meetings, financial reports, and the long list of tasks waiting for me.
