“This smells amazing, Mrs. Reid,” I say. Looking at all the dishes at the center of the table, I wonder if this is a standard night or if she made a big meal just for me and my sister.

“Mom makes the best food in the world,” Kimmie says. “The sides are always my favorite part. Those noodles are called japchae, and this right here is kimchi. You have to try it.”

I just can’t stop thanking them—Mr. Reid when he pours glasses of water for Sophie and me, Mrs. Reid when she offers second helpings, Kimmie when she picks up our empty plates and takes them to the sink. Kimmie actually rolls her eyes at me, and I know exactly what she’s trying to say—she’s telling me that it’s no big deal, that Sophie and I can stay here for as long as we need, that I don’t need to keep thanking them. But still, I want them to know just how grateful I am that they’ve given me and Sophie a home when we needed it the most.

My phone rings shortly after dinner. I pull it out of my pocket quickly, hoping there’ll be news from Pa, but when I see Jorge’s name on the screen, I just let it keep ringing. I already know what he’s gonna say.

It isn’t until his third attempt that I finally choose to answer.

“Hello?” I say as I step out of the kitchen, where I was helping Kimmie’s parents do the dishes.

“Mateo,” he says. “I’m sorry. You should come back. I never meant for you to—”

“It’s okay,” I say. When he and Amy finally emerged from their room after fighting for nearly two hours, I told them that Sophie and I were gonna go stay with a friend of mine. I said I’d already packed our bags, and that we were leaving as soon as Maria brought Sophie back from her playdate. Amy was quiet, still as a statue. Jorge was in tears. He apologized over and over again, begged us to stay, but I knew that we couldn’t. “We’re fine here. Don’t worry about us.”

“How could I not?” he says. “Mateo, please—”

“Listen, I have to go. I’ll talk to you later.”

I hang up, turn around, and realize that everyone in the apartment is looking at me. Sophie has gotten up from the couch. Kimmie, who was wiping the dinner table, has frozen mid-movement, and Mr. and Mrs. Reid have stepped out of the kitchen, still wearing rubber gloves.