The door opened and Lottie's heart ached as her youngest threw herself at her in desperate need of comfort. the tears, the puffy eyes, the reedy desperation in her voice.

"Oh Kate dear, what's the matter?" Lottie's arms gratefully accepted her offspring and she wrapped them around the girl's slight frame to protect her own. Lottie squeezed everso. Explanations would come shortly, but the girl needed love above all things in that moment.