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kitchen table staring up at him.
    “Well hi.”
    “This is my friend Matt Haight.”
    Matt tried to keep track of the kids as they were introduced. Miranda, the eldest, blonde and pretty, with Evan's eyes and a sharp air around her. Kathleen, also blonde, also pretty. She seemed shy, ducking her head when Matt smiled at her. Elizabeth— a real beauty with Evan's dark hair and features. She radiated warmth and enthusiastically greeted Matt. He knew he'd made an instant friend. And finally Danny, who was less forthcoming than his sisters. He sat on his hands, swinging his feet against his chair.
    Evan pointed to a chair and Matt sat down, trying not to twitch under the children's unwavering gazes. He accepted a plate full of breakfast and a huge mug of coffee from Evan, who still had an apologetic look on his face.
    “It's okay!”
    “Are you going to the game anyway?”
    Matt shrugged, remembering his table manners around the kids. He swallowed his pancakes. “Not much fun to go alone... ”
    “Hey, we're having a fun family day. You like Scrabble?” Elizabeth again. She had scooted onto her knees and rested her elbows on the table, peering at Matt with a detective's intensity. All she needed was a rubber hose and spotlight.
    A bit taken aback, Matt nodded. “Haven't played in a while though. Smart kid like you could probably kick my butt.”
    Elizabeth considered this for a moment. “You wanna hang out with us?”
    Matt glanced sideways at Evan. “Maybe some other time— sounds like fun family day is for the family only.”

    * * * *

    Evan took note of the wistfulness in Matt's voice and gave a quick look around the table. He didn't know what to do— as much as he wanted the time with his kids he would love to have some pressure off of him, have another adult around.
    Save by Miranda. “Well, yeah, but it would be okay if you wanted to hang around for a while. At least play a game of Scrabble. Maybe someone could finally beat Daddy.”
    Marveling over his eldest daughter's intuition, and kindness, Evan flashed her a smile. The selfish teenager who lived in this house one short year ago had been replaced by a mature and quiet young woman. He regretted that she'd had to grow up so fast, because seventeen was far too young to be taking on so much emotional responsibility in their family. But he knew from experience that it could also help you learn compassion and kindness at a much deeper level.
    “Uh, thanks, Miranda.”
    Evan caught Matt's eye and winked. “You have been challenged, sir.”

    * * * *

    A game of Scrabble turned into two. Winner of both matches— Evan Cerelli. Matt threw his hands up in defeat.
    “Can't we play something easier?”
    “Operation!” Danny got excited and ran upstairs to his room.
    Evan laughed out loud. “You're a dead man.”
    They didn't let Matt leave after Danny was crowned Operation champ. He was dragged to the video store where he won valuable points by arguing that the PG-13 movie that the kids had their heart set on wasn't particularly... PG-13ish.
    They checked out with four movies.
    “Hey Evan— what's that one?”
    “One for the grown-ups, haven't seen this in years— Gladiator .”
    Red-faced, Matt had to leave the store, wheezing so hard he thought he might lose a lung.
    Then they headed back to the house.
    “You aren't leaving yet are you, Matt?” asked Kathleen shyly.
    “Guess not.”

    * * * *

    “Hey, it's snowing.” Evan had gone to refill Matt's glass of iced tea (uncomfortably realizing that this was the first time they'd spent time together sober) and glanced out the kitchen window.
    “Cool!” shrieked Elizabeth, running to the front window, with the other three close behind.
    “Maybe school'll be closed!”
    This brought a cheer all around.
    Matt smiled up at Evan as he returned to the couch. “I remember sitting there with the radio under the covers with me, praying to every saint I could think of for my school to be called.”
    Evan