“No, Cassie, he’s definitely not just some random man,” she said, her voice shaking hard.

“Then who is he to us?” I demanded, starving for even a scrap of truth.

For one brief, breathless second, I honestly thought she was finally going to break her silence and tell me everything.

Instead she pushed the warm plastic tub into my hands and steered me toward the screen door.

“Take this hot stew out to him right now, honey,” she begged, turning away from my glare.

I glared at the steam rising off the lid with defiance burning in my chest.