Sadness shadowed his face, and he seemed to grow older before Lyon's eyes.

Lyon was about to say something, and then I came out of the kitchen holding a bowl of soup. "Lyon, can you grab me a potholder?"

"Of course," replied Lyon.

He walked over to the dining table, grabbed a potholder, and set it on the table.

I set down the soup, smiling. "We're having meatballs in egg-lemon sauce tonight."

"Perfect. Buddy loves meatballs. He'll be excited," Lyon chimed in.

Just then, the doorbell rang.

"That must be the driver dropping him off now," I said with a smile as I walked over to the door.

It was...