HIS NEIGHBOR WOULDN’T STOP REPORTING THE SOUND OF A GIRL CRYING INSIDE HIS HOUSE—THEN HE HID BENEATH HIS DAUGHTER’S BED AND HEARD HER PLEAD FOR SOMEONE TO SPARE HER

Rosa wiped her eyes. Mrs. Estelle nodded hard.

Lucia stood quietly and walked to him.

Thomas froze.

She hugged him.

Not the careful half-hug of the past year. A real one.