Waiting was difficult.

Lily checked it several times and asked whether blowing on it would help.

Claire suggested putting the plates out.

Lily chose her own and set a small spoon beside it.

When the cake was ready, Maya opened the frosting.

Lily dipped a fingertip into the pink before the spoon reached the container.

She held it up, waiting to see whether she was in trouble.

Maya handed her a napkin.

“Save some for the cake.”

Lily laughed.

There was no recording, no audience, and nobody telling Maya how that laugh made him look.

She set the pink frosting beside Lily’s clean plate as sunlight reached the orchid ring on the windowsill.