Page 222 of Say My Name

I set Theo down long enough to take the food from her. She kisses my cheek, then crosses to Elena and holds her face between both hands.

“You look beautiful.”

“I threw up yesterday because Dominic opened the refrigerator too quickly.”

“It released an odor.”

“It was a refrigerator. They do that.”

Rachel pulls her into a hug. “Still beautiful.”

Within twenty minutes, the quiet apartment is full of bags, shoes, food containers, children, and competing conversations. Sophie empties the contents of her duffel across the guest-room floor to prove Cliff misplaced her socks. Theo builds a block tower beside the coffee table, knocks it over, and gasps with theatrical shock every time.

I’m carrying plates to the table when I notice Elena pressing two fingers to her temple.

“Headache?”

“A small one.”

“Do you need food?”

“I’m about to eat.”

“Water?”

She looks down at the nearly empty glass beside her. “Please.” The word is barely audible, but I’m already moving.

I refill it and bring the box of crackers from the kitchen. Elena takes one, then catches my wrist.

“Thank you.”

I bend and kiss her hair. Her fingers remain around me for another second before she releases me.

Cliff watches from the dining table.

I see him watching again when everyone begins choosing seats.

Elena points to the chair across from mine. “I want that one.”

“The one beside me has better back support.”

“The one across from you lets me see Sophie’s presentation about why Princess Sparkle is a serious option.”

“It has visual aids,” Sophie announces.

I move the chair Elena chose and take a cushion from the other one.

She adjusts it behind her. “Perfect.”

“You’re welcome.”

“You challenged my selection first.”

“I improved the implementation.”

Rachel shakes her head as she sits. “How do either of you get anything done?”

“We’re excellent at our jobs,” Elena says.