It took longer than he’d expected to make arrangements at the grocer—mostly because the grocer liked to talk—but finally George made it to the butcher, who also seemed to like to chat, and bought a nice, plump duck. With that done, he practically danced home. He didn’t know when Papa and Mama planned to return to the cottage, and he still had to remove the covers from their bed.
Papa was happier than George could remember seeing him, and Mama had smiled more than he’d seen her do since Papa brought her to Mrs. O’Connor’s boarding house.
Mrs. O’Connor…George worried his lower lip. She was upset because she wanted Papa for herself. He’d overheard her talking to the other widows who lived there, not only about being Papa’s wife, but also about the young women in the neighborhood, who she’d
