Page 97 of When The Noise Stops

"I know."

She looked at me for a second. Then she stood up and hugged me.

"Daddy said you'd make me another cake when you came back."

I laughed.

"I can make you all the cakes you want."

Ronny and Tiny caught up a few minutes later.

Ronny was carrying a bag. Tiny was carrying three.

"We brought you things," Ronny said.

"From D.C."

Gabby's eyes went wide.

"You brought me things?"

"Girl, we brought you everything," I said.

They set the bags on the desk. Gabby tore into them like it was Christmas. A new phone. A tablet. A smartwatch and some pens and a journal.

"This is so cool," she kept saying.

"I never had this much stuff."

Tiny sat on the edge of the desk and watched her. Ronny leaned against the wall. I stood in the doorway.

For a minute, it felt normal. Like no time had passed.

Then the door opened.

Knox walked in.

Tiny and Ronny exchanged a look. Then Tiny stood up.

"Come on, Gabby," he said.

"Let's go drive the RV back to Lila's."

"But I'm opening—"

"Bring it. You can open it later."

He scooped up her stuff and led her out. Ronny followed. The door clicked shut behind them.

Knox and I were alone.

He didn't move. Didn't say anything. Just stood there with his arms crossed and his jaw tight, nostrils flaring.

I didn't tell him not to be mad. I waited.

He looked at the wall over my shoulder.

"You left a hospital bed," he said.