Ashton eagerly finished all the food in the box. So absorbed was he in eating that he didn't even notice Gia entering the room.

"Having breakfast?"

Ashton looked up. On his last bite, he nodded and finished his meal ritual. Instead of immediately responding, he chose to first take the stomach medicine Alice had prepared.

"Are you sick? Why are you taking medicine?"

Gia approached, pulling a chair and sitting directly in front of Ashton. She waited patiently and curiously for Ashton's answer.

"No, not sick, Gia. Just stomach medicine."

"Is your stomach acting up again?"

Ashton shook his head.

"No, it's not. This morning, I didn't have breakfast at...