“When is it not?” she said dryly. Then her expression softened. “How are you holding up with… well, everything?”
I shrugged, because the answer wasn’t simple. “Trying not to think too far ahead.”
She nudged me with her shoulder. “I heard Ethan’s back.”
I closed my eyes for half a second. “Yep.”
“And?”
Her tone was knowing. Too knowing.
“And what?” I deflected.
“Claire.” Sophie arched a brow. “Don’t start.”
I picked at a loose thread on my sleeve. “There’s nothing to start. He’s here. That’s all.”
“That’s not ‘all’ and you know it.”
She lowered her voice. “Just… be careful.”
I forced a small smile. “I’m fine.”
She gave me a look that said she believed me exactly zero percent, but she let it go.
“So,” I said quickly, “how was Lily with Owen yesterday?”
At that, Sophie brightened. “Sweet as ever. Quiet, but she warmed up after a while. Owen made her a ‘sand soup’ at the playground. She pretended to eat it.”
I laughed softly. “You should have taken a sip.”
She laughed sarcastically.
“Poor kid,” Sophie murmured. “She’s been through too much.”
I nodded. My heart squeezed.
Protectiveness for Lily was second nature, but now it came with the sharp edge of fear, fear that the ground beneath all of us had shifted in ways we couldn’t have predicted.
After a few more minutes of small talk, I stood, saying goodbye to Sophie and Ben, and made my way toward the Walker house.
Chapter 10
Claire
Emma met me the moment I stepped into the house.
She wore her favorite blue apron, dusted with flour, and even though she smiled, her eyes were rimmed with exhaustion.
“Claire,” she breathed, pulling me into a hug before I could react.
I hugged her back, feeling her trembling slightly. “I brought the cards,” I said softly when we pulled apart.
Her gaze softened as I held out the folder. “The kids made these?”
“All for Lily. And for you and Bill.”
Emotion flickered in her sad brown eyes, grief and gratitude, all tangled together. “She’ll love them. Truly.”
