“Not if I can help it.”
Something shifted in the room.
Evan’s shoulders dropped half an inch.
Caleb stopped pretending not to listen.
Noah set the tablet down.
And Luke stood up, walked over, and set the dinosaur in my lap.
“You can borrow him,” he said. “For your sister. So she’s not scared.”
My throat closed.
I looked down at the small plush toy, worn soft from years of use, and realized Luke had just given me the most important thing he owned.
“Thank you,” I whispered.
He nodded seriously, then sat back down.
For the first time since I’d arrived, the air in the house felt breathable.
Then Evan said, “You’re not going to last.”
I looked at him.
“Maybe not,” I said. “But I’m going to try.”
His eyes narrowed, searching my face for the lie.
He didn’t find one.
I stood, carefully tucking the dinosaur into my jacket pocket, and said, “Your dad’s waiting for me. But I’ll be back.”
I left before they could test me again.
Adrian’s office was downstairs, behind a heavy oak door that was already open.
He sat at a wide desk, papers spread before him, a laptop glowing cold blue in the dimming afternoon light.
He didn’t look up.
“They didn’t break anything,” he said.
“No,” I agreed.
“That’s a first.”
I stepped inside but didn’t sit.
“They’re grieving,” I said. “Not broken.”
His eyes lifted, sharp and assessing.
“You’ve been here an hour.”
“Long enough to see what everyone else missed.”
