Elowyn’s favorite flavor. By the time Arabeth returned with a tray holding two water glasses and two bowls of ice cream, I had regained some composure. She set the tray on the table next to the scrapbook and handed me my dish of ice cream. I stared into the cold mixture, realizing I hadn’t eaten or even tasted the flavor for over a year. “How long has this been your favorite?” I asked. “Not too long. I was always a plain vanilla girl, but one day I was in the grocery store passing the freezer cases and I looked over and saw the row of Chunky Monkey cartons inside. I just stopped in my tracks. I don’t know why, but I just had the biggest urge to try it. So I bought it and it’s been my favorite ever since.” I stirred the mixture with my spoon, took one small bite, and thought I might burst into tears. I set down the bowl on the table. “Brain freeze,” I said. “That happens to me a lot,” Arabeth said. “I don’t know why I crave the stuff. It’s loaded with calories.”
