The long mahogany table—usually spotless—was covered with notebooks, colored markers, measuring cups, and glass jars. Evan and Ella sat across from each other, wide-eyed, leaning forward in their chairs.
Between them stood Grace.
But she wasn’t cleaning.
She was teaching.
“Okay,” Grace said gently, “what do you think will happen if we mix these two?”
Evan raised his hand eagerly. “It’ll change color!”
Ella shook her head. “No, it’ll bubble!”
Grace smiled. “Let’s test our hypothesis.”
She carefully poured clear liquid from one jar into another. The mixture fizzed lightly, releasing harmless foam that rose and spilled over the sides.
The twins gasped.
Then laughed.
Daniel stared.
His sick children—who hadn’t smiled in days—were laughing.
Grace clapped softly. “That’s called a chemical reaction. Science isn’t magic. It’s curiosity.”
Daniel felt something tighten in his throat.
Grace finally noticed him.
Her face drained of color.
“Oh—Mr. Whitmore,” she said quickly. “I can explain. I wasn’t doing anything dangerous. Just a simple experiment with baking soda and—”
Daniel raised his hand.
“Why?” he asked.
Grace hesitated. “Why… what, sir?”
“Why are you doing this?”