“Hey, while we’re waiting, do you want something to eat?” I asked. “I haven’t had breakfast yet.”

“Why not?” said Jasper. “I can always eat.”

And, wow, could she ever. I got out bagels and cereal and fruit and juice and yogurt and granola, thinking that Jasper could pick what she liked. It turned out she liked everything. Lots of everything.

Sitting at the kitchen table, we didn’t talk for a bit. Just chewed and sipped. But then I was licking some cream cheese off my finger when Jasper suddenly stood up, walked over to a cabinet, opened it, and plucked out a coffee mug, as if she’d known right where it was. Just like that. Like magic.

“Wow, how did you know where to find that?” I asked.

Jasper shrugged. “Everyone keeps coffee mugs above the coffee maker, silly,” she said. “Haven’t you ever noticed?”

“I guess not,” I said.

Watching Jasper pour herself a cup of leftover coffee from the pot, I felt a funny happy twinge. It was nice to see someone so at home in my house. Tess had always helped herself to food whenever she was over, but that was different. She’d grown up here.

After Jasper had stirred in plenty of sugar and a dribble of milk, she rejoined me at the table, where she leaned back in her chair with both hands around the mug. She took a sip of coffee and grinned at me happily over the rim. Just like my mother, I thought. Only the exact opposite. Jasper was relaxed for sure.

“Leah?” she said.

“Yes?” I was nervous for some reason. Something in her even stare and her tone.

But then all she said was “Thank you. Very, very, very, very much.”

That caught me by surprise. “Oh! Sure! Anytime. No big deal.”

Jasper shook her head, like I hadn’t understood her. “No,” she said. “It is a big deal, for me. So for real, thank you. This is so much nicer than any morning I’ve had in a while. Just great.”

Just great. There was something funny in her voice when she said that. Something different, almost sad. “Is everything okay?” I asked.

Jasper nodded right away. “Oh, sure. I’m fine. Just . . . I’m new, you know? And I haven’t really met people. I guess . . . I’ve been keeping to myself. I didn’t even know I was looking for a friend.”

At the word friend, I could feel my cheeks pinking up, hot. “Oh, whatever, no worries,” I said, glancing away. Then I stood, pushed out my chair, and headed for the bathroom. “Back in a sec,” I called over my shoulder as casually as I could.