Page 72 of When The Noise Stops

"We need somewhere to go."

Gabby looked at me as if the years between us had been a long weekend.

"Hey, Daddy," she opened her arms and smiled.

I went down on one knee. She put both arms around my neck. I held her.

Behind me, the bedroom door opened.

Lila came out in the sleep shirt and a pair of gym shorts she'd left in my laundry. She looked at Maggie, then at the girl in my arms. She did not look angry. She did not look wounded. But I could see she had heard everything.

She looked at Maggie.

Then Gabby.

Then me.

Her eyebrows went up.

Just a little.

She wouldn't make a scene.

"I'll talk to you later, Grizz."

She went out the back. The screen door slapped shut.

I wanted to follow her. Gabby's arms were still around my neck.

"Go inside," I told Maggie.

"Sit down. Don't touch anything."

I led Gabby across the hall and knocked on Lila's door.

Lila opened it.

"Could you please watch her," I said.

"I'll explain later."

She nodded. Neutral expression.

"Of course."

There was no tightness in it. She smiled at Gabby the way she smiled at people in her shop, easy and unforced, and that bothered me more than a slammed door would have.

"You want a cupcake?" Lila asked.

Gabby nodded.

Lila let her in. The door closed on the two of them, and I stood in the hall with my life split between two apartments.

Maggie was on my couch when I went back, shoes still on, the duffel at her feet.

She immediately annoyed me.

"Who was she?"