”Where have you been?” Alvin didn’t even look up, had only seen her out of the corner of his eye and he already knew the answer to the question, but it begged to be answered anyway. She needed to stop hiding away half the day next door. Nothing was going to be solved by avoiding the situation at hand.

He took a minute and took a deep breath. ”It worries Ma.” He explained, tone softening just a little. She hadn’t said as much, but he knew his mother was worried; she wouldn’t have retired from the ministry if it didn’t. Between Sloane and Wally it was a miracle she hadn’t gone grey (she had said this to their father when she thought nobody had been up.)