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Tears welled up in the child's eyes. "Mommy's hurt." Her lower lip began to tremble and she inclined toward Avery.

Avery couldn't bear to witness Mandy's anguish. Responding to a spontaneous maternal urge, she reached up and cradled Mandy's head with her scarred hand. Applying only as much pressure as her strength and pain would afford, she guided Mandy's head down to her breasts. Mandy came willingly, curling her small body against Avery's side. Avery smoothed her hand over Mandy's head and crooned to her wordlessly.

That inarticulate reassurance communicated itself to the child. In a few moments she stopped crying, sat up, and meekly announced, "I didn't spill my milk, Mommy."