Madeline spoke calmly, her voice betraying none of the tension beneath. “It’s Stella who’s asking. She’s unsure whether to prepare your meals or not—afraid that if she makes too much, it’ll go to waste when you don’t show up, but if she makes too little, you’ll come home unexpectedly and she’ll have to fire up the stove all over again.”

Sebastian’s enthusiasm flatlined. “If Stella has something to ask me, why can’t she pick up the phone herself? Dr. ...