“A family meal?” Hannah looked at her sister’s stomach and detected roundness. She smiled inwardly. “What’s the occasion?”

“The occasion is I haven’t seen Dad in two weeks.” Cindy smiled at Gabe. “I hope you’re hungry. Rina cooked enough for an army.”

“She cooks like an angel,” Koby said.

“Great.” Gabe gave him a forced half smile. “I think I’ll wash up.”

After he left, Hannah let out a sigh. “Oh man.”

Koby said, “Has it been hard for you?”

“No, he’s a nice kid. It must be strange for him. I get the feeling his life is strange.”

“Nice of your mom to let him stay here,” Koby said. “I’ll see if she needs help.”

“I’ll join you in a minute.” After he left for the kitchen, Cindy said, “I think Dad located the kid’s father, but don’t say anything, all right.”

“Okay. That’s good news.”

“I hope it’s good news. I think his dad’s a whack job.”

“In what way?”

“I’m not sure. Did he talk to you about his dad?”

“He didn’t say much…which is what I would do if I were him.”

They both heard the car pull up. Decker unlocked the door and broke into a smile when he saw his girls. “How are my two favorite daughters?” He kissed both of them on the cheek. “To what do I owe this honor?”

“You sounded grumpy over the phone,” Cindy said. “Being totally narcissistic, I figured my presence would cheer you up.”

“It does.” He faced Hannah. “How was your day?”

“Uneventful.”

“How’d it go with Gabe?”

“Fine. He’s in his temporary room. Any luck with his parents?”

“Nothing with his mother, but his father called me.”

“That’s good,” Hannah said. “Any reason why he called you and not Gabe?”

“No idea. I’ll talk to Gabe in a minute. Where’s Koby?”

“In the kitchen with Eema.”

Decker headed for the kitchen and came in just as Koby was lifting an oversize iron-clad casserole from the oven. “Something smells incredibly good.”

“Good and heavy,” Koby said.

“Chicken-and-sausage paella.” Rina kissed her husband’s lips. She was wearing an apron festooned with butterflies and her black hair was pulled into a ponytail. “I love one-dish meals.”

“There is also a salad.” Koby plopped the hot casserole onto the stovetop.

“Two-dish meals, then.”

“And all the appetizers. And dessert.” Koby grinned. “Don’t worry, Rina. I will eat it all. I always do.”

“How do you eat so much and stay so thin?” Decker asked.

“I don’t know, Peter. I would say that most Ethiopian men are thin, but most of us in Africa are also on a subsistence diet. I think it’s genetics and luck.” He patted his stomach and picked up a stack of dishes. “I’ll set the table.”

“I can do that,” Decker said.