“Don’t laugh,” Mrs. Winslow said, plunking the box on the table. “Operation Milly is underway.”
Cassie shook her head and laughed. “You look like you need doughnuts and muffins.” We all nodded. She flipped the lid—rows of steaming strawberry and cinnamon muffins and maple doughnuts. “Sue sent these. She’s worried about you guys.”
“That’s sweet,” I said, stealing one. “Tell her thanks.”
Laughter bubbled through the kitchen; it felt almost normal again. Even Austin smiled—really smiled. The sight of it made my heart happy. I wanted to tuck that smile away, somewhere only I could reach.
I bumped Cassie’s shoulder. “He’s been out there since dawn reinforcing Sherlock’s fence. I swear he is Houdini.”
“He breaks everything I’ve tried,” Austin said through a mouthful of Sue’s muffins.
“Don’t lie, you just like using power tools,” Cassie shot back.
He didn’t argue, which made us laugh harder.
A few seconds later, Mason called through the screen, “All quiet on the western front!”
Mrs. Winslow saluted with a muffin in her hand. “For now. That’s what they want you to think.”
We all laughed again.
When it quieted, I caught Austin watching me again. His expression was gentle, but his gaze kept darting to the windows. Old habits die slow.
“Hey,” I said quietly. “It’s okay. We’re okay.”
He nodded once, like he wanted to believe it.
Outside, a jay shrieked in the maple tree. Sunlight stretched longer across the floor, golden and safe. For the first time in days, I thought maybe we’d outrun the chaos.
By late morning, the house had emptied. Cassie left for tutoring, Mrs. Winslow to make a perimeter run, and Austin finally sat long enough to drink coffee instead of refilling mine.
I pretended to do invoices at the table but mostly watched him—the way his fingers rested on the mug, the small crease between his brows finally smoothing. He wasn’t relaxed, not really, but closer than he’d been in days.
“You know,” I said, tapping my purple sparkly pen, “I don’t think Arnie is coming back.”
He studied his cup. “I’d like to believe that.”
“Well, believing’s free. You should try it sometime.”
His mouth twitched. “Do you really believe that?”
“Nope, but I’m optimistic.”
“Fair.” He took a sip. “You be optimistic, and I’ll live in reality.”
“Hey, I live in reality. Just mine isn’t as gloomy as yours.”
He looked at me then, and whatever he wanted to say stayed behind his eyes.
A knock rattled the screen door. Levi’s grin beamed through it. “You two decent?”
“No promises,” I called. Austin looked at me, shocked.
Levi stepped in anyway, holding a pie tin. “Janet made too many—blueberry. Thought you might need sugar after the other night.”
“Blueberry, yum. But really, we don’t need all this food.” I gestured to the other tins and containers that held a variety of foods, taking it from him.
“It’s a small town. You’ll get used to it.” He winked at Austin. “Town’s quiet again, but folks are jumpy. You want someone parked at the end of your drive?”
