In another situation, Charita had just finished cooking, even if it was just a little. She was always excited about making food for her daughter. The girl would eat whatever her mother cooked.

Charita took off the apron, sweating from the hot steam of cooking. The woman wiped it using a tissue, then stored the food in the cupboard. She would serve it when Bella came home.

"What time is it already? I almost forgot to check." Charita left the kitchen and looked at the wall clock above Bella's bedroom door. "Bella should be home any minute now."

She headed to her room and sat on the edge of the...