Every single dish looked and smelled incredible.
In front of Vincent and John sat the food I'd brought back from Nora's in plastic bags. Cold. Picked over. There was barely enough for John alone.
Vincent frowned. "That's all there is?"
"Can't help it. That's all she had left today."
He reached his chopsticks toward my plates. I smacked them away with mine.
"I already told you. You chose to eat Nora's food. You don't get to touch mine."
"You made way too much. It's just going to go to waste."
"I'd rather dump it in the trash than give you a single bite."
"Judy, are you serious right now?!"
I ignored him and kept eating, one big mouthful after another.
Vincent slammed his chopsticks down and sat there glaring at me.
John polished off Nora's leftovers in minutes. Vincent didn't get a single bite.
"Daddy, I'm still hungry."
Vincent stood up. "Come on, buddy. Daddy's taking you out to eat."
John leapt off his chair. "Yes! I want pizza!"
The two of them strolled out the door without a care in the world and didn't come back until late.
The second day, the same thing sat in front of them: Nora's leftovers.
This time, it was nothing more than some watery gravy over plain rice.