Sadie sat quietly in her wooden chair, pulling the long hem of her blue jacket sleeve down over her knuckles.

“Mrs.

Bennett gave me hot chicken soup,” Sadie whispered, keeping her eyes down.

“Well, Mrs.

Bennett is a very sweet neighbor, but this is your real home,” Colleen said, her sharp tone dressing her words up as proper manners.

“When we’re done with breakfast, why don’t you and I take a nice drive over to Tuttle Crossing Mall?

We can pick out those new winter boots you’ve been wanting.”

Sadie looked up at me, her brown eyes wide and unsure.