Eleanor couldn’t believe how much she missed Sam. A week ago, they’d been mere acquaintances, but today it felt strange not to be spending the afternoon with him.

At least she had plenty to keep her busy. Kali and one of her younger cousins needed help with algebra. Another cousin struggled with reading. A third kid, whose relationship to the family Eleanor never quite figured out, hadn’t paid any attention in any science classes all year, as near as Eleanor could tell. None of them seemed particularly interested in school, either. Eleanor explained, drew pictures, made bad jokes, and even acted to try and make the subjects both clear and interesting for the other kids.

At the end of the afternoon, she leaned against the counter in the Greeley’s kitchen, drinking a faintly fruit-flavo...

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