Page 5 of Silent Smile

Sheila nodded, forcing a smile. "Right. So, what's first on the moving agenda?"

As if in answer, Star emerged from the house, her dark eyes wary as she surveyed the scene. She was dressed in her usual ensemble of dark clothes. "Need any help?" she asked, her voice quiet but steady.

Sheila smiled at the teenager, recognizing the offer for what it was—an attempt to contribute, to solidify her place in this new family dynamic. "Actually, yeah. Could you help me unpack the kitchen boxes? We should probably get the coffee maker set up before we do anything else."

Star nodded, a ghost of a smile flickering across her face.

Star had been living with them for two months now. Watching Finn with Star had revealed a gentle side to him that Sheila hadn't seen in their years as partners—the way he'd help with homework, listen to Star's music recommendations, teach her to change a tire. It was one of the many things that had drawn her to him romantically: his capacity for both strength and tenderness.

As they made their way to the kitchen, Sheila reflected on the challenges Star had already faced in her short life. Star's past, marked by an abusive father and years of instability, had left deep scars. There were nightmares, moments of withdrawal, and flashes of anger that seemed to come out of nowhere.

Still, Sheila was glad to have Star around. Since Star's mother was out of the picture and her father wanted nothing to do with her, the court had agreed to make Sheila the girl's legal guardian.Navigating life with a moody, obstinate teacher wasn't always easy, but it certainly did make life more interesting.

The kitchen, with its outdated appliances and worn linoleum floor, struck Sheila as a perfect metaphor for their situation—full of potential, but requiring a lot of work. As they unpacked dishes and utensils, Sheila watched Star from the corner of her eye.

"So," Sheila began, aiming for a casual tone, "what do you think of the place so far?"

Star shrugged, not looking up from the box she was unpacking. "It's big," she said after a moment. "Quiet."

Sheila nodded, understanding the unspoken comparison to the noisy apartment complex they'd left behind. "Yeah, it'll take some getting used to. But I thought maybe we could set up that darkroom for you in the basement. Give you a space for your photography."

At this, Star's head snapped up, a spark of genuine interest in her eyes. "Really? You'd let me do that?"

The surprise in her voice made Sheila's heart ache. It was a reminder of how little Star had been given in her life, how unused she was to having her interests nurtured. "Of course," Sheila said warmly. "This is your home too, Star. We want you to feel comfortable here."

Star ducked her head, but not before Sheila caught the hint of a real smile. It was a small victory, but Sheila would take it.

Their moment was interrupted by Finn, who entered the kitchen with a large box labeled "Living Room."

"How's it going in here?" he asked, setting down the box with a grunt.

"Just getting started," Sheila replied. "Star, why don't you show Finn where you want to set up your darkroom? He might have some ideas about the ventilation system we'll need."

As Star led Finn toward the basement, Sheila took a moment to survey the kitchen. The to-do list was daunting: newappliances, flooring, probably rewiring. But as she ran her hand along the worn countertop, she felt a sense of possibility. This was a fresh start for all of them.

The sound of raised voices from the basement pulled Sheila from her thoughts. She made her way down the creaky stairs to find Star and Finn in what appeared to be a heated discussion.

"I don't need someone hovering over me all the time," Star was saying, her arms crossed defensively. "I can take care of myself."

Finn, looking exasperated, caught sight of Sheila and threw up his hands. "I was just suggesting a curfew," he explained. "Given that we're further out of town now, I thought it made sense to—"

"To keep me on a leash?" Star interrupted, her voice sharp.

"Actually," Sheila interjected, "I've been meaning to mention that I spoke with Mrs. Jacobs from next door the other day, and she offered to keep an eye on things when we're working late. She's a retired teacher."

Star rolled her eyes. "Great. Another adult to babysit me."

"Nobody's babysitting you," Sheila said patiently. "But with us being further from town, it makes sense to have someone nearby who can help out if needed. Mrs. Jacobs seems nice. She even offered to help with your homework if you want."

"I don't need help with homework," Star muttered, but Sheila noticed her defensive posture relaxing slightly.

"Of course you don't," Finn said, his tone gentler now. "But it's good to have neighbors we can trust. Especially in our line of work."

Star studied the floor for a moment. "Did she really used to be a teacher?"

"Art and English," Sheila said. "She mentioned seeing your paintings through the window while we were moving in. Said she'd love to talk about techniques sometime."

A flicker of interest crossed Star's face before she could hide it. "Whatever," she said, but without her earlier heat. "I'm going to unpack my room."

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