“Yes, twins,” announced Patrick, and the boys started marching around the room singing a loud song as Zoe gave Ramsay an “I told you so” look.

“Okay, okay,” said Lissa, checking the syringes. “We’re ready.”

Silence fell on the cheery room. Sighing, Shackleton rolled up his sleeve. Everyone watched him as he stoically endured the double injections. Patrick and Hari looked at each other.

“Shackleton’s nae greetin’,” said Hari in his low growl.

“Shackleton isn’t greetin’,” said Zoe automatically. “I mean crying. Shackleton isn’t crying. Seriously. Your dad isn’t going to be able to understand you.”

“Naw, he willnae.”

Patrick had pulled up his T-shirt sleeve and was presenting his arm with the air of a doomed soldier facing the firing squad.

“I will absolutely not cry,” he said, screwing up his little face.

Hari watched with interest, then, after it was done, went up and gently wiped away the tear from Patrick’s eye then, curiously, licked it.

“Hari!” yelled Zoe, as Lissa reached into her bag and presented Patrick with a sugar-free lollipop.

“Ooh,” said Patrick, and Hari’s eyes grew wide.

“Oh,” said Shackleton quietly. “Only you see I didn’t get a lollipop.”

“You’re thirteen!” said Lissa. The child was enormous; he looked old enough to drive a car.

“I didn’t realize there was a legal limit for lollipops,” said Shackleton.

Lissa smiled and brought out another one.

“I don’t want one,” said Mary loftily.

“Can I have two?” said Shackleton.

“No!” said all the adults in the room simultaneously.

Hari might well have cried, even though he needed only his booster, had not Patrick stood in front of him, letting him lick on his lollipop as the needle went in. Mary withstood it with barely a flinch, which made Zoe sad at how used the child was to pain, and she hugged her strongly afterward. And then they were done.

“Okay,” said Lissa, straightening up. “Possibly a few cold and flu-like symptoms, but don’t worry about them unless they last for more than forty-eight hours.”

Patrick immediately started to cough loudly.

“Or are completely made up.”

“No, no, it’s fine,” said Zoe. “Come on, Patrick, straight to bed with you.”

“Actually I think I am absolutely fine,” said Patrick, eyes wide.

“It was nice to meet you,” said Lissa, a tad wistfully. Obviously they lived in a big mansion and were terribly busy and everything, but Zoe seemed like the kind of person Lissa would have liked to have had as a friend.

“Thanks!” said Zoe, and Lissa was halfway to the car before she turned around to find Zoe there.