eric could n't give me any more blood to complete my healing . nothing like dangling a string before a cat to get it to move quicker . standing at the head of the table , his face flushed and eyes watery , he stared at the sauce-smeared plates in front of us and then saw his plate stacked with spaghetti and meatballs . then she forced her personal life out of her mind for now , because that was the only way she could cope . 