Thea had been at the dining table for three hours. Kofi knew because he'd been counting—not on purpose, but the way you notice someone coughing in the next room. Draw. Erase. Draw. Erase. The soft scratch of pencil on paper had become the soundtrack to their mornings.
He stood in the kitchen, staring at the pancake box like it held the secrets of the universe. Add water. Mix. Pour. How hard could it be?
The doorbell rang.
Thea's pencil rolled off the table. They looked at each other.
"You expecting someone?" he asked.
She shook her head.
The doorbell rang again, followed by what sounded distinctly like Nina's voice saying, "I know you're in there, I can smell the sadness."
Kofi groaned and went to the door. Through the peephole: Nina, holding what looked like enough food for a small army. Ruby, half-hidden behind her. Jake, examining the hallway ceiling like it was fascinating.
He opened the door.
