CHARLOTTE EXITED THE BEDROOM in an oversized cotton red tracksuit with a double white line running down both the arms and legs. She wore floppies on her feet. Her hair, normally in a ponytail, hung loose to let it dry. “Have you got something I can hold these pants up with?” she asked Edward.

“I’ve got some string in the kitchen, if that will do.”

“I guess it will have to. Where is it?”

“The set of drawers over there. Third from the top.&r...