Veronica’s heart tightened. How could that be possible? Esther had been gravely ill for most of her life in Romania, with no formal schooling. Her fluency and maturity didn’t align with what Veronica had been told—or with the child she had imagined.
That night, Veronica shared her unease with James. “It doesn’t make sense,” she said, her voice tinged with doubt. But James only smiled, brushing it off. “Maybe she’s gifted,” he suggested lightly. “Some kids are just ahead of their time.”