Chapter 20
Two hours later, Mary and Sam packed up their things, returned their books to the silent, watchful desk of Mrs. Wen, and stepped out of the archives’ hushed cave. The late afternoon sun felt like a release after the building’s stuffiness. They walked across the quad, then across the pathway to the Humanities’ building.
“Are you going straight home?” Sam asked, her tone deceptively casual as she squinted against the light.
“Yes. I’ve got the first certification class tonight. I need to hurry home, feed the boys, and turn right back around.”
“Do you need help? I’m free tonight. I could supervise homework. More accurately, referee it.”
Mary laughed, the sound carrying her relief. “You are impossibly brave. That would be a huge help. I still don’t have a sitter lined up. Interviews are tomorrow. Yo…
