Page 10 of Nocere

"Are you sure, Ainsley?" asked Alice.

"We got this, right, kiddo?" Ainsley grinned and served Luna a little bit of everything, including the roast.

"Right, Auntie. We have to cut it small. Right, Moms?" Luna pointed at her dish and I about melted in my chair from her cuteness. Jordan seemed to share the sentiment, because she leaned her chin on her hand while she gazed at Luna.

A warm hand fell to my back, drawing my attention to Samirah. "What can I pass you?" she said, gesturing to larger plates closer to her side of the table.

"Um, a little of everything is fine," I said, my voice softer than I intended.

When I looked back to the others, I noted Alice and Stella sharing a wide-eyed glance, each wearing a similar smirk.

Dinner went without a hitch and Jordan's delicious cooking was a treat, to say the least. Rebecca cooked for us, but I rarely cooked for myself. A hot, home-cooked dinner twice in the same week was something special for sure.

While everyone around me chatted and shared their reactions, I focused on my plate, and allowed myself to tune out much of the stimuli that sometimes overwhelmed me. Early on, I learned to induce a sort of tunnel vision that blocked me from seeing anything around me, or paying it much mind.

"You're very quiet," whispered a soft voice to my right. I glanced at Samirah and gulped down the bite of beef.

"I'm sorry."

Her soft smile cooled when she heard my apology and my shoulders relaxed at the reception of such. "For what?"

"I'm not sure," I confessed. So much for the anxiety-blocking mechanisms, because it returned full-force.

"There's no need to be sorry. I was making an observation. Quiet people tend to be thoughtful and you struck me as such," she said, her tone unassuming. The way she wrapped her lips around her fork, with such delicateness, distracted me for a moment.

"I can be."

"Or a little nervous. Something tells me you're both."

I nodded, set down my fork, and sipping my drink. I glanced at her and she offered me a gentle smile before returning her attention to the others.

"Momma, I want to go on the swings." Luna burst forth the second she cleared her plate.

"Not now, honey." Alice caught her around the middle after she slid off her chair and bolted from Ainsley's grasp. "Now is dinner time."

Immediately, Luna looked to Stella who shook her head. "It's dinner time."

"But I want to." And there went the bottom lip poking out. "I'm finished."

"Everyone else is not finished." Alice lifted Luna into her lap. "You can sit here and wait quietly."

"I can take her," I offered, gesturing to my empty plate. "If you like."

Stella and Alice shared a glance and Luna clapped once. "I can go!"

"Are you sure, Rose?" asked Stella.

"I am." I nodded and set my napkin beside my plate.

"Best decision you ever made, babe." Jordan nudged Ainsley with her elbow. "Keeping those swings up after you bought this place."

"I planned to turn them into a place to hang a giant wind chime, but alas, swings won over." Ainsley snapped her fingers and Jordan shook her head at her.

I stood from my seat and held my hand to Luna. "Show me where?"

She took my hand after Alice set her down. "Are you a stranger?"

A soft chuckle left me and I deferred to her parents.

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