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loss that I now face. I have to accept that there are unknown dangers out there, lurking among us. As of yet I have been lucky, however, I fear the worst is yet to come.
     
    Niccolo sat pondering Abraham’s words. He too felt as if Evil was prowling around him, waiting to pounce. The answer was out there somewhere. He hoped to find it before he was forced to move on. Just thinking about leaving this place made him unhappy. He normally enjoyed being lost in a new crowd, but now he would be leaving someone behind.
    As a rule he avoided forging ties with humans, but this woman was different. He took one step too close, and was blindsided by the pull of her heart calling to his.
    Just then the librarian interrupted his thoughts, “Five minutes to closing, Mr. Concorezzio.”

 
     
    Chapter Five
     
     
     
    In the blink of an eye, Dori found herself preparing the main house for the annual Sahfi Thanksgiving Feast. Between her family and those of the farmhands, there were going to be sixteen people around the table this year. Dori had graduated from crutches to a cane but still couldn’t manage all the preparations alone. Thankfully, Joe’s wife Rita offered to help up at the main house.
    The two women made busy tidying the house and endlessly cooking. Conversation was easy with Rita, who had a thousand and one stories about her kids, the Lady’s Guild, or what she overhead at the hair salon. Dori was content to gossip carelessly with her in the warm kitchen. The empty house hummed with life.
    The buoyancy didn’t end there. With Michael’s help, Latif was making fast progress and would be going to his first show soon. Amir was thrilled that the horse was finally living up to his bloodlines and couldn’t praise Michael enough. Dori was not at all surprised when Amir invited him for Thanksgiving dinner.
    At last there was nothing left to cook or clean, and the two women parted ways to prepare themselves and their children for the party. The girls were easy, they wore matching dresses. After brushing their hair until it gleamed, Dori secured their pony tails with silk ribbons. They scurried off to dress their dolls and Dori reminded them not to make a mess.
    Turning her attention to the closet, Dori pondered the limited choices. She pulled out the same slacks and sweater she wore for all dressy functions, but before she could put them on, Amir shook his head and clicked his tongue.
    “You wear that every year. Don’t you have something else?”
    “Um, sure. I’ll find something.”
    She returned to the closet in search of another outfit and Amir l>
    She found Amir and Joe in the living room while the kids played in the girls’ rooms. Rita was back in the kitchen laying out the appetizers.
    “We brought some wine. I put it in the fridge to cool.”
    “Thanks, that was sweet.” Just as Dori reached for the tray of hors d’oeuvres, the bell rang again. It took her a minute to reach the door, but soon she welcomed Ralph, his wife Barbara and their three boys. Amir stood to welcome them while Dori tottered back to the kitchen to put the bouquet they brought in water.
    The boys set off to tease the girls while the men sat watching the football game. Barbara joined the women in the kitchen as Dori’s parents arrived. The smells of warm food wafted through the house. It was loud and cramped and Dori loved every second of it.
    Having set the last dish on the table everyone was called in to eat. Amir noticed an empty chair,
    “We can’t eat without Michael.”
    “He’ll be here soon, I’m sure,” Joe said. “Once he tastes how good Dori’s cooking is, he won’t be late again!”
    “Ralph, I didn’t do this by myself. Rita -” The doorbell interrupted Dori, and she went to welcome her tardy guest. She greeted him as she swung the door wide.
    “Come on in, Michael. Happy Thanksgiving.”
    He stood on the stoop looking at her, eyes wide. He said nothing.
    “Michael?”
    “ La tua bellezza mi lascia senza