Chip, chip.
Who was doing the same for Noah? No one.
Chip, chip.
Slowly, some of the tension bled off of Callum. He said something to Iris with a rueful half-smile and then jerked his head toward the house.
Chip, chip.
Noah wouldn't release his tension like Callum had. He'd hold onto whatever awful thoughts were swirling in his head because that was what he did.
Because he didn't have anyone to talk to.
Jilly quickly dumped the ice into a bucket.
She saw the look that Iris shot her as she entered the back door ahead of Callum. Her sister wanted answers. They'd never officially cleared the air since that morning weeks ago. Jilly had been avoiding her calls since the doctor's visit.
Jilly didn't want Iris to know about the blood work, and she didn't want to explain everything that had happened with Noah—from the paint to the kitten to today's game. Luckily, she was saved by the doorbell as the first non-family party guests arrived.
She pretended to focus on Lindsey so she didn't have to be alone with Iris.
Two little girls from Lindsey's class at school arrived together. And, miraculously, Kitty did not reappear. One of the girls asked to see Lindsey's room, and the girl shyly agreed to show them.
Jilly said goodbye to the school mom’s—whose names she should remember but couldn't—just as Casey and PJ ran in to the living room, with Levi and Brandt following. All four boys had Nerf guns and were firing Styrofoam darts in all directions.
Another little girl was dropped off, and then a little boy, and the party continued in a state of mild chaos until the cake had been consumed and gifts opened.
Jilly watched from behind the couch as Lindsey beamed and exclaimed over the bracelet-making set Iris had purchased for her. She couldn't help noticing that Lindsey hadn't taken off the camera Noah had given her. It hung from a lanyard around the girl's neck, constantly getting in her way but apparently not a nuisance to the girl.
Callum's twins started a wrapping paper war, and Jilly retreated to the kitchen to retrieve a trash bag.
Iris was there, looking in a lower cabinet. Probably nauseated again.
Jilly tapped the upper cabinet next to Iris on her way to the doors below the sink. "I had to move the saltines. PJ ate a whole sleeve one afternoon while I wasn't watching, and I wanted to make sure I had some for you."
Iris sent her a grateful look and went after the crackers.
Jilly shook out the trash bag, but stalled on her way back to the living room. Let them have one or two more minutes of fun.
"She seems better," Iris said. "Lindsey," she clarified when Jilly sent her a questioning look. "She seems happy. Like a normal kid."
Jilly sighed. "She is a normal kid."
Iris grimaced slightly. "You know what I mean. Being here has settled her.You'vesettled her."
Jilly glanced through the doorway to see PJ leap over the couch, launching an armful of crumpled paper grenades. She couldn't help but smile.
"They're good kids buried under baggage. Sometimes, I can get them to set down one of their suitcases." And sometimes they picked it back up when she wasn't expecting it.
Iris leveled a glance on Jilly that made her want to squirm. "You seem different, too."
Jilly crunched her brows. "What does that mean?"
"I mean, you're keeping secrets."
Jilly shook her head. "What are you talking about?"
"Noah? Your neighbor?"
