Lydia Chapin happily accepted the offer of a ride to Amherst, where Rachel and her husband ran a bed-and-breakfast. At least during normal times: Rachel’s unexpected pregnancy, ten years after the birth of her son Matthew, had kind of put that on hold. Luckily her husband Noah’s schedule gave him some flexibility to deal with the children. Lydia lived just over the hill from Meg, in a house similar in age and style to hers. Meg had always hoped that the same hands had built them both: the Chapin and Warren families had lived side by side since the later 1700s. She was waiting outside, well wrapped against the chilly wind, when Seth and Meg drove up. She hopped quickly into the car. “I’m so glad you suggested this, Seth,” she said. “I can’t take credit for it; it was Meg’s idea.” “Well, it’s a good one. I hate to say, I haven’t spent nearly enough time with Rachel as I should.
