“I could make peach cake.” The words are filled with so much longing, and they’re so blatantly absurd coming from her, that we all laugh. Isabella giggles and coughs and giggles again. It’s relief and hope and joy.

“Let’s make sure we have enough first,” Casey says, attempting to remain practical.

But, of all people, it’s Isaiah who opposes him. “We could make something special since we didn’t collectively celebrate any holidays. We could celebrate our own.”

“Food day?” someone suggests.

“Peach cake day!”

From there, everything else we unpack is magic. No chocolate, unfortunately, but animal crackers and a carton of fruit juice in each box. Enough for all of us to have a sip. Toilet paper, soap, and toothpaste. The soap is of a better quality than anything I’ve ever seen here. Laundry detergent and hand sanitizer. Even pads and tampons for those of us with periods. Mine is infrequent at best, but it’s good to have the option.

Finally, inside both, a smaller box: supplies for our medicine cabinet. Casey clings to those a second longer than he needs to. He has Tylenol, Advil, Band-Aids, antiseptic solution, and bandages. Other pills in marked bottles.

When we’re done unpacking, the ration card still burns a hole in my pocket, and Grace hasn’t returned. We have two standard family rations of food and pills. It looks like riches. The cards will ensure we can get more, and that’s a gift of immense value.

Mackenzi is holding on to the canned peaches like she uncovered a diamond the size of her fist. Isaiah is petting the instant coffee.

A weight I didn’t know I was carrying drops from my shoulders. Nia and Logan smile while they look at the stack of food, like they’re already mentally adjusting their inventory lists. Isabella shares a few tender, careful words with Isaiah. She’s grown pale and weary, but she’s glowing.

“Will the cards keep working?” Mackenzi asks, once the four of us have finished our food and our new supplies have been transferred to the kitchen. It’s clear she’s asking Riley, though why she would know anything is beyond me.

True to form, Riley shrugs. “Probably. As long as they don’t know the original owners are gone.”

“It’s been a while since they cleared out houses too,” Logan says, with Nia interpreting. “As long as we keep using the cards, they will just assume everything’s okay.”

Mackenzi laughs. “Well, in that case…”

“An endless supply of food!” Khalil grins, and his words are met with cheers.

Logan tilts her head, and I wink. It’s technically not endless. We’ll need to be careful and continue to ration properly. But that’s splitting hairs. It’s endless in all the ways that matter. It’s certainty, when we haven’t had that in months.

Only Casey frowns. He gestures for me to step away from the others, and I do, but we keep a distance between us, so it’s not like we can have a very subtle conversation.

“Where’s Grace?” he asks again.