“Are you kidding me? I didn’t cook this magnificent feast to not be apart of it. Besides, where would I go? Home?” Ashley didn’t mean to sound so bitter about the whole home issue, but it just came out before she had time to stop it.

Spencer couldn’t help but notice how Specer had sounded so bitter about going home. “Well, you can always stay here for as long as you like. I promise I wouldn’t mind, and I’m sure Justin will just be in heaven, so feel free.” Spencer said motioning towards the small child still nestled in Ashley’s arms with her head still buried into her neck and hair. She seemed to be memorizing the way Ashley smelled. Though it was quite abnormal for a child to do this, it was something that Justin often did so he could always have some form of a memory after that person left him. Though he was only three years old, he often did things as if he was much older than he actually was.

“Well, thank you. I might take you up on that offer sometime. Anyway, let’s eat before our meal gets too cold. Besides, those cupcakes smell really good and I’m starving!” Ashley wanted to change the subject and talking about food seemed to do the trick. No one noticed how hungry she was until the food was mentioned and the aroma reached each person’s nose again.

“Yay! I’m vewy hungwy. It wooks vewy yummy Auntie Ashee! Fank yew!” Jay said as he sat down at the table. He got up into his booster chair and waited for the two women to sit down as well. Just as he was about to dig into his meal, he heard his mother’s voice call out to him.

“Justin Micheal Carlin. Are you forgetting something?”

“Yes Mommy. Pwease, everybody bow yew heads for da pwayer. Otay, ready. God is Gweat, God is Good, Let us fank Him for our food. By his hands, we are fed. Fank you God for daily bwead.” Jay finished as he looked up hopefully at his  mother. “Are we weady now Mommy?”

“Yes sweetheart. You can eat now.” Spencer said as she looked at Justin then glanced at Ashley before taking a bite of her own food. Surprisingly, it was delicious. Most of the time, Spencer couldn’t stand to eat anybody’s macaroni-and-cheese except her own, but this was superb. “Wow, Ashley, this is amazing. I didn’t take you as one for cooking, but this is excellent.”