Page 25 of Brittle Heart

Sophia chuckles. “She is something else. I love her.”

We navigate our way to the cafeteria, each grabbing something to eat before settling in at our regular spot.

“So, how’s it working together? Is she as good of a fit as you thought?” Josh asks his sister just before he dips into his country fries.

I sigh inwardly. I’d tell Josh to include some veggies in his meals, but he never listens. As I start on my cauliflower, I grudgingly admit that his plate looks better.

“Absolutely, she’s got a solid work ethic. For a student, she’s exceptionally ahead. She’s quick on her feet and keeps things tidy. Plus, she’s mostly quiet. I enjoy working with her,” Sophia says.

“Hmm…” I murmur. “So, she doesn’t toss any sarcastic remarks or complaints your way?”

Sophia laughs. “Well, I’m kind to her. Maybe you should give it a try.”

“I am nice to her! But it’s like with Margaret. You’re just the grump whisperer.”

At that, Josh laughs, nearly choking on a fry.

Sophia pats his back, and after he recovers from his coughing fit, she says, “Maybe it’s all about understanding people, you know? Everyone has their own way.”

“Yeah, maybe,” I reply, not entirely convinced. I finish off the last bite of my cauliflower. “Did she tell you what happened? How did she got the cut on her temple?”

“No, and I did not ask. It is not my business.” Sophia says, narrowing her eyes. “And until she comes to you to talk about it, it’s not yours either.”

“Maybe it’s nothing. I think the whole domestic violence case we just had is messing with your head, Clay,” Josh says.

I nod. It’s possible that the case we just left is messing with my judgment, but something about this cut is not sitting right with me. I’ve seen too many cases, too many victims, and I’m almost certain Carolina is hiding something.

If it was nothing, wouldn’t she just have said what happened and not been so elusive? And how can I try to help her without her shutting me out entirely?

“Do you have any plans for your birthday?” Josh asks Sophia, steering the conversation in a new direction.

“It’s still a bit away,” she says.

“True, but if you’re thinking of something big, I’d like to know ahead of time so I can make arrangements,” he pushes.

Sophia chuckles. “You don’t have to worry about organizing anything. We could just have a small house party like we did last year. However, this time, I’d prefer to have it on your side of the house. Your kitchen is bigger, and it got a bit crowded last time, even though there weren’t many people.”

I nod. “Absolutely! We can have the food set up on our side, and we’ll open the doors to the garden so people can walk freely between our halves, and it won’t feel too crowded. If it’s not too cold, we could even hang out in the garden for a while.”

“Oh, it’s definitely going to be cold,” Josh says. “But maybe we could bring out the fire pods again. They kept us warm on New Year’s Eve so we could hang out outside for a bit.”

“Right,” I agree, grinning. “This is going to be good! I’m ready to get a little drunk.”

Sophia chuckles. “Knowing you, you’ll probably eat all the food before making your way upstairs, and then we won’t see you for the rest of the night.”

I shrug. “I know how to party.”

* * *

Carolina

“That looks cozy,” I observe as I place Howie’s belongings, which I’d been carrying, on the bed assigned to him by Gloria.

“Right?” Gloria beams. “It’s a nice bed, and being in the back, it’s much quieter.”

Howie sits on the edge and pushes his hands down into the mattress. “It’s soft.”

“Yes, we got new ones a few months ago. They are very comfortable,” Gloria shares.

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