Cadence had feared Elliott might baulk at having to drive the minivan. She even offered to let him ride in the back. But he was not only a good sport about it, he actually took it a little too far, insisting on jamming to what he called "mom music," which happened to be Lionel Richie, and even took them through a drive-thru for ice cream, despite the cold weather. Cadence wondered why he had "mom music" on his phone but the only answer she got was, "Because I'm a groovy mom," in his best impression of their own mother's voice.

They had arrived home only a few minutes before her...