Vera Xavier stuck her tongue out playfully. Zachary Preston lowered his voice and said, "You didn't grow up with us. Your mother doesn't mean any harm, she's just not quite used to you being home yet. I'm sure it'll get better after a while. Please don't hold a grudge against her."
"I won't," Vera said. She understood Zachary's difficult position. His words warmed her heart, but she also felt a pang of guilt. After all, she wasn't his biological daughter.
"I'll clean up. Why don't you go upstairs and read?" Zachary said gently.
Vera nodded. Just as she was about to head upstairs, there was a knock at the door, and she hurried to answer it.
When she opened the door, she saw a mail carrier in a green uniform. He asked, "Excuse me, does Vera Xavier live here?"
Vera nodded. "That's me."
The mail carrier gave her a curious look. She asked him, "Is there something I can help you with?"
