"Hmmm. Good food here," Mel praised, licking his fingers like what Mara felt was nothing but a wild animal. She quickly looked away from him and turned back to her food. After taking a few spoonfuls, she grabbed the plates and took them to the kitchen. Hers was still half-full, but she just lacked the appetite to eat a full meal.

Getting to the kitchen, she dumped everything into the sink and exhaled deeply. Her head was so full of thoughts, wishes, hopes and so many other things that she was beginning to feel the early signs of a headache. If only she could just turn back the hands of...