What''s so special about Marvin, anyway? All he ever does is y the victim!


    A surge of jealousy shed in Keen''s eyes.


    He wanted, desperately, to expose Marvin for who he really was, to show Mom that this so-called innocent kid wasn''t nearly as pure as she imagined.


    But after drawing a deep breath, Keen forced himself to let it go.


    He''d already lost to Marvin''s games too many times before. He knew that without solid proof, no one would believe him.


    Besides, that wasn''t why he''de to see his mother today.


    He had something far more important to do.


    With Keen present, Abby had to rein herself in; she couldn''t badmouth Haynes O''Brien as freely as before.


    Instead, the group slipped into casual, trivial conversation.


    Throughout dinner, Marvin kept the mood light, entertaining everyone with funny stories about his day-to-day life. For someone so young, he was surprisingly quick-witted, making everyone burst outughing again and again.


    Ste ignored Keen, but Abby didn''t leave him out. Every now and then, she asked about his schoolwork and what he''d been up totely.


    Keen responded to the adults with perfect manners and poise.


    As Abby looked at Keen''s face-so strikingly simr to Haynes''s-she let out a silent sigh.


    No one knew better than Abby just how much Ste loved Keen.


    If it weren''t for Keen, she never would have put up with Rachel for so long, or fussed over her like a housekeeper, even going so far as to prepare special remedies for her.


    When dinner was nearly over, Abby turned to Keen. "So, Keen, you came all this way to see your mom. Was there something important you wanted to talk about?"


    Keen''s fingers tightened nervously around his backpack. He spoke in a small voice, "I... I brought something for Mom."


    Ste finally nced his way, her eyes settling on him for the first time all evening. Abby perked up, "Oh? What is it?"


    A flicker of hesitation crossed Keen''s face.


    He looked up, meeting Ste''s gaze head-on.


    It was the first direct look she''d given him since he arrived.


    A strange, fluttery excitement welled up inside Keen.


    Maybe Aunt Abby was right-maybe Mom really did care about him.


    If he just lowered his head and admitted he was wrong, maybe she''de back to him, just like before.


    The thought gave him a little more courage.


    He unzipped his backpack, pulled out a mug, and fidgeted awkwardly. "It''s... a birthday present I made for you," he mumbled. "I got it back from Rachel..."


    He almost never apologized or admitted fault to Ste, and now, the words made him feel awkward and oddly ashamed.


    Hands trembling, he offered the mug to Ste, his voice barely above a whisper.


    "I made this myself. I hope you''ll like it..."


    This was as close to an apology as Keen could manage.


    In the past, it only took a single soft word from him for Ste to let go of any grudge and sweep him into a hug.


    But not this time.


    Ste stared at the mug in his hand, unmoving, not reaching out to take it.


    Keen hadn''t expected her to react this way.


    He looked at her in panic, his face growing paler by the second.


    Why wasn''t she taking his gift?


    Hadn''t she always been easy to win over?


    The atmosphere in the room grew thick and tense.


    Neville Connolly leaned back in his chair, silent, his intense eyes unreadable. Abby looked at Keen, her expression tangled with worry and words left unsaid. Ste just kept her gaze fixed on the mug, her face impossible to read.


    Keen''s earlier confidence started to crumble. His hand, still holding out the mug, began to tremble.


    Then Marvin broke the silence.


    "That''s your birthday present for Ste, Keen? It''s beautiful!" he eximed.


    He walked over to Keen. "Here, let me give it to her for you."


    Before Keen could react, Marvin reached out and took the mug from his hand.


    Keen froze for a split second, then instinctively tried to grab it back.