“Oh don’t worry.” Maggie patted her hand. “Your secret’s safe with me.” She winked conspiratorially and rose. “And the next time you’re staying over, just let me know if you need to borrow some extra rope.” Anita just hid her furiously blushing face in her arms as Maggie started making breakfast.

While Maggie made breakfast, the boys woke up. Christopher came to the kitchen and sat down at the table, bleary-eyed and quiet. Max just shuffled past the kitchen to the bathroom. Maggie wasn’t sure, but she thought she could hear retching sounds almost being drowned out by the sound of the fan over the stove.

“Good morning,” she said cheerfully as she cracked some eggs into the frying pan. “Did you two sleep well?”

Christopher just gave Maggie a withering look in reply.