Eliana’s hand tightened around her fork, her voice sharp. "No. I didn't invite him here.” The she warmed her voice and tried to soften the blow to her daughter. “There's nothing for him to eat. Hopey, have you stopped listening to Mommy? What did I just tell you?"

"Oh, okay," the little girl agreed. She remembered her mother didn’t like Samuel so she didn’t want to upset her too much.

Samuel watched the entire scene, still seated on the sofa, feeling hurt by ...