I knocked on the side door that led to the kitchen at seven the next morning. I could see Meg at the stove through the glass pane and she smiled when she saw me waiting there.
“Come in, Joey,” she said brightly as she opened the door so I could move past her.
“Thank you, ma’am,” I replied as I stood next to the refrigerator. “Mr. Lancett said I could come by for breakfast, but I don’t want to trouble you.”
“No trouble whatsoever. Food’s almost ready. Coffee?”
“Yes, thank you.”
As she poured me a cup, Meg yelled into the hallway, “Bear, come eat!” She turned back to me. “You know, he’s never asked any of the hands to stop by, before. Not like this, especially on a weekend.” She gave me a speculative glance. “Hmmm.”
Meg said no more and went back to the stove, checking on the biscuits,
