Laverne sat her down at the tiny kitchen table and asked what was going on.
Victoria tried lying.
Then she cried.
Then she told the truth.
Laverne closed her eyes for a long time.
Isaiah would later imagine that moment a thousand different ways, always fearing Victoria had been punished because of him.
But that was not what happened.
Laverne was exhausted, broke, and frightened of every bill that arrived, yet something in her face softened when she understood.
The next morning she packed two smaller sandwiches instead of one full one.
She added extra bread where she could.
She skipped her own breakfast more than once.
