Grade A Dark Amber  

Ted Owens watched sunlight ooze across his kitchen table as he stirred half-and-half into his second cup of coffee. The knot of anxiety in his belly tightened as he watched his niece pour milk on her cereal. When she first arrived at his house, Ted was inclined to think of Suzanna as “that poor kid” but the child would have none of that nonsense.

In their short conversations over a Sunday-night supper of BLT’s and soup—Ted’s culinary skills were limited—the girl expressed no eagerness to see her mother again nor any contempt for Allison’s actions. In fact, Suzanna’s demeanor reminded Ted of the resignation of airline passengers who just learned their flights had been delayed… again.

from The Road Unsalted by Sonja Hakala (Carding Chronicles)