popped a chunk of carrot into his mouth. He crunched down and grinned at me, then brushed his finger along my cheek. âYouâre pale.â I pinched my cheeks back to pink and stepped over to the counter to peer into the stainless toaster. Whenever sick or lacking sleep, my brown eyes become deep-set and dark-circled. I tried rubbing the darkness away, without much luck. âThe combination of orange juice on an empty stomach and the heat of my morning shower made me ill.â After throwing up, however, I passed out on the bed pulling on my socks. I suppose we both had a hunch this was more than a bout of the flu but neither of us mentioned our suspicions to the other. He pulled me close again. âStay well for finals. Iâm making plans, you know.â I chuckled. âIâve heard.â âIâm serious. See a doctor Monday.â His mouth curled into a sweet smile. âCanât Monday. Dental hygiene final.â âAfter.â He fingered a lock of hair away from my face and tucked it gently behind my ear. âYouâre in such a hurry, getting engaged already.â Ben remained quiet for a long moment. Instead of answering me directly, he said, âIâm talking to your dad when he gets home tomorrow.â I let out a quiet laugh. âHis blessing youâre old-fashioned about.â âHeâll appreciate my respect. I want him to like his new son-in-law.â âHe does like you. And he will like you in three years after you finish grad school and weâve started paying back your student loans.â âI wonât wait that long to marry you, Mallory.â âFine. Just not next week.â âNext week is out anyway. I might head up to Canada. Come with and meet my family.â âI could. Itâs been awhile since you went.â Ben snuggled me close. âWeâll manage. I love you, babe.â âI love you back.â We kissed until I pulled away giggling. âEnough now. Theyâll be here soon.â I tilted my head in the direction of the veranda. âFinish up out there.â I traced his lower lip. âLater.â âWe need steak sauce. Iâll pick up anything else you need.â I hesitated suggesting he stop at the pharmacy. âWeâre good.â I checked the clock. Nearly three. âHurry back.â A short while later, I shuddered when I passed the front window and caught a glimpse of black creeping toward the house from a few doors down. I pushed the drapery aside for a good look, and sure enough, there it was: Aunt Judithâs station wagon with the crack running along the windshield, rust feeding upon the edges of its fenders and doors with malignance. I let the drapery drop. I stood arms akimbo. Allowing that woman in the house was suicide. Weâd formed such a festering bond of contention so long ago I had little memory of us being otherwise. For years, our conversations were a battle of wits. Mom must have let slip theyâd be away. Leave it to her sister to stop by uninvited when I was scrambling to prepare salads and make the house presentable for invited guests. I dashed upstairs to hide Benâs duffel in Rickâs closet before Judith pulled in the driveway. My brother had gone up north with our parents to visit Grandma Bain. If it hadnât been for finals, we would have gone, too, and skipped Chadâs party altogether. I pulled the closet door closed, satisfied my nosy aunt would pass on Rickâs room, although I just knew sheâd make it her mission to snoop around mine. Sheâd phone my mother and the argumentwould start. I hurried back downstairs and out the French doors off the kitchen moments before the side door slammed. âMallory Anne!â her tinny voice droned. Mind your manners. Sheâll leave quicker if you do. âOn the veranda!â Judith appeared phantom-like the other side of the screen.