I'm not running. I was I was left behind. Understanding flickered across the boy's face. Oh, he said quietly. Yeah.
Mara spoke up suddenly. You can stay in the room next to mine, she said. It has a lock. In case you need space, the kindness was too much. Elena put down her spoon.
I don't understand why you're all being so nice to me. Sophie tilted her head. Why wouldn't we be? You don't know me. So, Daddy didn't know us either, but he still picked us.
Sophie, Mason said gently. That's different. No, it's not. Sophie turned to Elena. We were all in bad places before daddy found us.
Ethan was in a group home. Mara was in the hospital. I was in a really loud place with too many people and not enough food. But Daddy came and got us and now we're a family. Elena stared at Mason.
You adopted all three of them. Yes. Why? Mason was quiet for a long moment. Because they needed a home, he finally said, and I needed them.
What about your wife? The question slipped out before Elena could stop it. Pain flickered across Mason's face. She died, Mara said flatly. Four years ago.
I'm sorry. Don't be. Mara's voice was hard. You didn't kill her. An uncomfortable silence fell.
Mason cleared his throat. Mara, what? I'm just saying. I know what you're saying. The teenage girl stood abruptly.
I have homework. She left. Ethan watched her go. She's having a bad week, he explained to Elena. The anniversary is coming up.
The anniversary of when our mom died. Ethan said it matterof factly. Mara takes it harder than the rest of us. Sophie nodded seriously. Mara knew mom the longest.
She was 10 when it happened. I was only two. I don't really remember. Mason's jaw tightened. Okay, he said quietly.
That's enough for tonight. But Sophie, enough. The little girl's face fell. Elena recognized that look. The desperate need to fill silence with words.
To prove you were useful, wanted. "I think your soup is getting cold," Elena said gently to Sophie. Sophie looked down at her bowl. "Oh, yeah. " They ate in silence for a few minutes, then Ethan spoke. So, where did you come from, Ethan?
Mason started. It's fine, Elena said. I came from I was married until today. My husband divorced me this afternoon and kicked me out. That's messed up, Ethan said.
Ethan, what it is? He's not wrong, Elena said quietly. Sophie frowned. Why did he divorce you? Sophie, that's none of your business.