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Charlie snickered. “That red-headed orphan in Annie.”
“Was not, brat.” Annie glared at him. “You’re a—”
“Annie!” Matt broke in. “Enough.”
After a moment of strained silence, Jolie tried again. “How’s school coming along? Making new friends?”
Charlie launched into a convoluted story about the boys in his class. A shadow passed across Annie’s face, but she sat silently, picking at the meal she’d barely touched.
She hadn’t smiled once the entire evening and hadn’t been stopping by the clinic after school lately, either. Depression, maybe?
When Charlie finished his tale, Jolie reached out to lay a hand on Annie’s arm. “How about you?”
She gave a sharp jerk of her shoulder. “Fine.”
“Do you have any special friends yet?”
“Sure.”
“Have you invited anyone over to your house after school yet?”
“No.” Annie pointedly picked up her glass of water and drank it slowly, down to the last drop, clearly declaring the topic off limits. She reached for the pitcher and poured a second glass.
Matt watched her, his forehead creased. “Your friends are always welcome. If they don’t have a ride, we can always pick them up.”
“Annie doesn’thavefriends,” Charlie announced.
“Mind your own business,” Annie snapped, her eyes flashing.
Charlie continued as if he hadn’t heard her. “I heard kids say they think she’s stuck up.”
“Charlie!” Matt gave him a stern look, then turned toward Annie. His voice gentled. “It’s hard being a new kid in school. Sometimes kids misinterpret a little shyness—”
“Please,just drop it, okay?” Twin flags of crimson marked her cheeks. “Can I be excused?”
Charlie wolfed down his second helping of mashed potatoes, then pushed his plate back. “Can we go see the llama?”
“What do we say, Charlie?”
Charlie ducked his head. “Thanks for supper, Jolie. Can I go see the llama?”
Matt raised an eyebrow.
“Uh...please?” Charlie wiggled in his seat. “Can I please be excused? It’s gonna be dark soon.”
“Clear your place, then. Annie, do you want to go with him?”
Both kids were out the door at the speed of light, slamming the door behind them.
Matt gave Jolie a rueful look. “I’m sorry. We don’t go out much, and I haven’t been very successful at teaching them their manners. Without their mom...”
“I’m really sorry about your wife. It must have been so hard.” Jolie stood and started gathering dishes from the table, stacking plates and glasses and silverware onto a tray. “For all of you.”
Matt rose and followed her into the kitchen, carrying a platter and casserole dish half filled with green beans. “Let me help. I can wash.”
“No, I’ll just toss everything in the dishwasher. It only takes a minute.” She waited a beat, then added, “How old were the kids when she died?”
“Charlie was just six, and I don’t think he remembers her as clearly as Annie does. Annie was ten and took it harder. Still does, though she would never admit it.”
