Please.

[ “stay”, says both her smile and the reach her hand makes for his arm. ]

I know when he comes back. You can take the time you need to finish it, and heating it up should only take a minute. [ her dogs, at least a few of them, are crowding around the boy’s feet. sniffy sniffy— ] What’s that, Tiramisu? You don’t want to say bye-bye to the new friend?

[ her voice is playful and bouncy in her now baby-talk with the dogs . . . one of them woofs, while she prepares the stove for heating. ]