Danny was taken aback for a moment before slowly replying, "Sarah Palmer. She is the one who helps me the most. She’s an outstanding person—someone I’ve always admired. Her accomplishments in botany have impressed me deeply and she’s helped me a great deal.”
When Ella heard his answer, her hand, which was chopping the vegetables, froze and she accidentally cut her finger.
She looked at her bleeding finger and slowly placed her hand under the faucet to rinse it.
Shortly after the reporters left, Danny slipped on his coat and called out to the kitchen, “Don’t wait for me. I am not eating dinner tonight; cause I’m heading out to the lab.”
Bang!
The door slammed shut. She turned off the faucet and fished a Band-Aid from her pocket.
After placing the last dishes on the table, Ella called John Sinclair, her son.
After the call connected and before Ella could say anything, the person on the other end snapped, "Mom, I'm going to Aunt Sarah for tutoring. Since you don't understand anything, don't make things worse."
When a busy tone sounded from the phone, Ella knew the meal she had cooked would go to waste again.
She turned on the TV, scooped a bowl of spaghetti and ate alone again.