“We just want you settled before the heat breaks,” Daniel said.

He pushed his chair back two inches, as if the matter had been decided and entered in a ledger.

“We can help you carry two boxes over Saturday morning.”

“I won’t need any help on Saturday,” I said.

Daniel stared at me for three seconds without a blink.

“You can’t stay past the end of the month, Mom.

The budget just doesn’t stretch that far.”

“Chloe, would you pass the carrots, please,” I said.