One afternoon when Quinn was still at school, Bert went into the kitchen, where Mrs. Allman was reading a book, and sat down across the table from her.

"Hi," Bert said.

Mrs. Allman closed her book. "Hey, honey."

Bert looked down at his hands. "So did Quinn tell you I'm clean now?"

"He did," she said. "I'm very proud of you."

Bert looked up and grinned. "Thanks." He picked up a spoon of the table and started playing with it, wiggling it around and making the ceiling fan reflect in it. "So hey, Quinn's really awesome. Thanks for..." He looked at her again. "Thanks for making him."

Mrs. Allman smiled. "It was my pleasure, honey." She stood up. "You know what? I'm going to share a secret with you."

Bert chuckled. "If it's those trashy romance novels in your closet, I already found them."

She looked over her shoulder at him with a mock scowl. "Not that. My secret food stash." She opened a cabinet and pulled a tin off the top shelf. "Don't tell the kids or they'll get into it every day." She brought the tin to the table, sat down, and opened it to reveal a small gold package.

"This is the most expensive chocolate in all of Utah," she said. She took once individually-wrapped piece out and handed it to him. "Taste."

Bert unwrapped the chocolate and popped it into his mouth. His eyes rolled back in his head as it melted in his mouth. "Wow," he said once he swallowed. "Well, I don't need meth anymore."

Mrs. Allman laughed and tore the package the rest of the way open. "How about we ruin our dinner appetites?"

"You're the best mom ever," Bert said, and he held out his hand for another piece.