"Drew, I want to help you," Claire said softly, patting his shoulder.

Drew suddenly slapped himself twice across the face. "It's all my fault, all my fault..."

"Don't say that, Drew. It's not your fault." Claire grabbed his hand.

Camila turned from the passenger seat, sighing. "What's done is done. Crying won't bring the money back. Let's go home. Have a good meal. Get some sleep, and start fresh tomorrow." Drew nodded, and his shoulders still trembled.

When they arrived at Claire's doorstep, Grandma came out of the house with an iron basin. Inside it were cedar wood, red beans, and cinnabar.

She lit it with a match, and smoke began to rise from the basin.

"Drew, step over it," Grandma said softly.

Obediently, Drew lifted one foot and gently stepped over the basin.

mutter, "Step over the fire, ward off

a set of new clothes. "Go take a shower," she instructed. "It dispels bad

went to take his bath, Claire gathered the family in the living room, and her expression

voice slightly hoarse, "Mom, Riley, as a daughter, as a sister, and

rimmed with red, and continued, "I

Claire's hand and nodded approvingly. "Of course! I

were brimming with tears. "Mom, but I'm not

mother always blamed herself for not providing a complete home,

that!" Grandma suddenly demanded, letting go of Claire's hand with

smiling weakly. "If it were me in trouble today, would you sell the old house to save

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