What a poor little rich girl she had been! Accustomed to luxury, she had viewed the typical student apartments of her classmates as little better than hovels. After considerable searching, she had found a palatial five-bedroom place on Commonwealth Avenue, which very much resembled a French boulevard. In one bedroom, she had installed a nanny for Karim, in another, a live-in maid who also did the cooking. That had seemed like a reasonable minimum of servants—no need to call attention to herself through excess.

Looking back, she had to laugh at that Jenna. Her ignorance had been appalling. She had no idea how much food cost or what a plumber did, no awareness that servants in America expected regular days off, or that land- lords, even of luxury apartments, wanted the rent on the first of the month. After a year and a half, she had finally confronted the fact that she was running through her money at an alarming rate, and that there was no wealthy father or husband to replace it. She took a two-bedroom apartment a mile from the campus, dismissed the cook and the nanny, and learned about day- care and supermarkets.

She and Karim had lived happily in that apartment for nearly five years.

The stew was simmering nicely, tender and tasty. Its aroma made the new place feel even more like home. Bring a guest. Did she really want to leave her warm and cozy castle for the cold wilds outside?

She heard the beep of the soccer-team minibus from the street, followed by Karim’s footsteps on the stairs.

“Hey, Mom! Guess how many goals?!” “Two?”

“Three!”

“Who was the goalkeeper?” “Josh.”

“Uh-oh. Is he upset?”

“Huh? Nah. We’re pals. Besides, it’s not his fault the other guys can’t stop me.” “Whoa! Superstar!”

Karim ignored the mild rebuke of his boastfulness. “Can we eat early, Mom? Do I have to do my homework first? Something smells great, and I’m starving.”

“All right. I’ll watch you eat, though. I snacked after work.”

They sat at the kitchen table talking of school and soccer while Karim devoured two bowls of stew. It was a cozy scene. It felt right. They were the smallest possible family, but a family nonetheless. At times like this, Jenna could say that she was truly happy.

“Can we watch TV, Mom?” “Nice try. Homework first.”