I stood in the hallway for a long moment, my arms wrapped around myself, trying to keep the worry from swallowing me whole.
Then, a soft voice broke through my thoughts.
“Do you want anything?”
I turned to see the young lady from before, Mae. She was standing near the kitchen, her hands twisting nervously in front of her.
“Water? Juice?” she offered hesitantly.
I opened my mouth, not even sure what to say, but before I could decide, Mae turned and scurried toward the kitchen.
Moments later, she returned with a glass of water, holding it out to me with small, steady hands.
“Here,” she said.
I took it, my fingers brushing against hers as I did. “Thank you.”
She smiled softly but then glanced toward the closed door where her mother was tending to Jaxon. A flicker of worry crossed her
