Silently, he stepped back. Perhaps he was dreaming, like the character in “The Raven.” All he needed was a bust of Pallas and a dying fire.

She’d used up nearly all of her courage just coming back. If he didn’t speak soon, they’d end up simply staring at each other. Like a nervous speaker about to lecture on a subject she hadn’t researched, Lee cleared her throat. “Hunter…”

“Hey, I think we’d better just give the biscuits to Santanas because—” Sarah stopped her headlong flight into the room. “Well, gee.”

“Sarah, hello.” Lee was able to smile now. The child looked so comically surprised, not cool and distant like her father.

“Hi.” Sarah glanced uncertainly from one adult to the other. She supposed they were going to make a mess of things. Aunt Bonnie said that people who loved each other usually made a mess of things, for at least a little while. “Dinner’s ready. I made meat loaf. It’s probably not too bad.”

Understanding the invitation, Lee grasped at it. At least it would give her more time before Hunter tossed her out again. “It smells wonderful.”

“Okay, come on.” Imperiously, Sarah held out her hand, waiting until Lee took it. “It doesn’t look very good,” she went on, as she led Lee into the kitchen. “But I did everything I was supposed to.”

Lee looked at the flattened meat loaf and smiled. “Better than I could do.”

“Really?” Sarah digested this with a nod. “Well, Dad and I take turns.” And if they got married, Sarah figured, she’d only have to cook every third day. “You’d better set another place,” she said lightly to her father. “The biscuits didn’t work, but we’ve got potatoes.”

The three of them sat down, very much as if it were the natural thing to do. Sarah served, carrying on a babbling conversation that alleviated the need for either adult to speak to the other. They each answered her, smiled, ate, while their thoughts were in a frenzy.

He doesn’t want me anymore.

Why did she come?

He hasn’t even spoken to me.

What does she want? She looks lovely. So lovely.

What can I do? He looks wonderful. So wonderful.

Sarah lifted the casserole containing the rest of the meat loaf. “I’ll give this to Santanas.” Like most children, she detested leftovers—unless it was spaghetti. “Dad has to do the dishes,” she explained to Lee. “You can help him if you like.” After she’d dumped Santanas’s dinner in his bowl, she danced out of the room. “See you later.”

Then they were alone, and Lee found she was gripping her hands together so tightly they were numb. Deliberately, she unlaced her fingers. He saw the ring, still on her finger, and felt something twist, loosen, then tighten again in his chest.