His son shared an age with Algernon, then — Sera wondered if the two knew each other. She did nod at the man's statement. "I don't like the name of the home," she admitted, "Inconvenient Children. That can't be helpful for the children's self-esteem." Some of them would be there because they were orphaned, sure — but some had likely been abandoned by parents who did not want or could not afford them. If the kids were ever going to make something of themselves, they could not feel like they were inconvenient children.

She glanced at his hand; no wedding ring. "My eldest son may know yours," she offered, "He started this year, too."