“Please, Hashem,” she whispered, “give me the ability to help Devory. She has so much pain inside"

Devory’s hands curled tightly around her steaming cup of cocoa. “No.” Her one-syllable reply filled the kitchen.

Mrs. Weiss lifted her mug and grinned. “It was worth a try.” She took a sip and flinched. “Ooh!” Her fingers pressed against her mouth. “That burns.” She stood up and went to the sink. Devory watched her turn on the cold water and dab her lip with it.

“I didn’t realize how hot the cocoa was.” Mrs. Weiss returned to the table and sat down.

Devory noticed a red mark above her stepmother’s lip but didn’t say anything. She lifted her mug and drank. “Ow!” The cup dropped from her hands, splattering on the floor.

Her stepmother was out of her chair and standing beside her. “Are you okay?”

Devory rubbed her sore mouth. “You’re right. It’s boiling.” She couldn’t help but smile clumsily behind her fingers, even though she had accidentally spoken.

Mrs. Weiss’s lips curved upward too. “You want an ice cube on it?”

Devory shook her head.

“Oy, you have a red mark.” Mrs. Weiss touched her own face to show Devory where it was.

“So do you.”

Mrs. Weiss touched her upper lip. “Oh my, you’re right.”

Devory clasped her teeth together to keep herself from talking again. She didn’t want her stepmother to get the wrong message. Nothing had changed between them!

Devory saw the puddle of cocoa under the table and groaned.

“It’s okay,” Mrs. Weiss said. “I got it.” She unrolled a wad of paper towels and wiped up the mess. “There, all clean. I’ll make you another cocoa.”

Devory shrugged indifferently, then began to cough.

“Here, Devory.” Her stepmother was standing beside her, holding a glass of water. “Take the Tylenol.”

Devory took the water, making sure not to touch her stepmother’s hand.