Avery wanted to return to work, too, but her body still had not recovered.

Even if she wanted to go back to the office, Mike would not allow it.

There was another thunderstorm today.

This winter was much colder than the years before. Mike reminded her not to leave the house before he went to the office earlier.

"You can invite your friends over to the house if you're bored, Avery," he said.

Avery simply grunted in response.

Once Mike left, she suddenly thought about how she did not really have many friends. Tammy's abduction left a permanent scar on her, and Wesley was nowhere to be found. She had no friends to invite over at all.

Mike returned an hour later with a bag of yarn.

"Knit a sweater if you're bored, Avery! You could make sweaters for the kids, or even for me." Mike figured that knitting was not a tiring activity, and it took more time. "You could even knit one for Chad's dog."

Avery put down the book she was reading, then looked at him and asked, "Do I look that bor