“Sometimes.”
Mia nodded.
“Me too.”
Then she picked up Gerald.
“Okay. Story now.”
And the moment passed without becoming heavier than it needed to be.
That was one of Mia’s gifts.
Adults believed important emotions required ceremonies.
Children sometimes understood that feelings could simply be acknowledged and carried forward.
By spring, Blackwell & Reed looked different.
Not dramatically.
The marble was still cold.
Clients were still demanding.
Deadlines remained deadlines.
But parents could use emergency childcare days without whispering about them.
Managers were evaluated partly on team retention and sustainability rather than only revenue.
A return-to-work program was launched through Kane Foundation in Caroline Kane’s name.
Priya joined the committee overseeing it.
Rachel became its fiercest advocate.
And I learned executive leadership contained significantly more budgeting meetings than anyone had warned me about.
One afternoon, the new managing director, Elena Park, stopped by my office.
“You have a minute?”
