“Sort of.” I wasn’t quite ready to tell her about Milo. She was still friendly with Milo’s mom, and I didn’t need to take a ride on the Awkward Town express right then. Instead of meeting her eyes, I busied myself with moving a few boxes of Christmas decorations. At the bottom of the stack was a white box with Ronnie’s blocky writing on it. “Found it!”

“Good for you!” She gave me a high five as I tucked the box in to my side and made my way back to the door.

“Yeah. I knew I would. Sorry if I made the mess worse.”

“It’s okay. Dinner is almost ready. You’re staying, right?” Pulling her hat down over her ears, she led the way back to the house.

“What is it?” I was staying regardless because her cooking always beat dorm food or needing to buy dinner, but I didn’t want to appear too desperate or I’d be headed back to my dorm loaded down with a week’s worth of leftovers and snacks.

“Chicken enchiladas and bean soup.”

“Yeah, I could eat that.” I paused to stamp off my shoes in the mudroom. I stashed the box next to my shoes and backpack. If I was staying, I knew the rules, and I headed to the sink before she could remind me to wash up. April would be down soon, and she’d want a hug, so I scrubbed extra well under my nails and up my wrists, the process automatic from years of precautions.

“Jasper!” Right on schedule, April trooped down the stairs. Her hair, same red as mine, was pulled up into a high ponytail, little wisps escaping to make her look far younger than fifteen. The baby of the family, she was also small for her age with delicate features and slim limbs, but she was surprisingly strong as she clung to me in a tight hug.

“Wash,” Mom ordered.

“I’ll set the table.” Unlike most of my siblings, I never minded doing chores for my mom. I liked being useful, liked knowing that no matter how stressed and worried she got, there was something I could do for her.

The dishes were still hot from the sterilizing cycle in the dishwasher, and they felt good against my chilled hands. Already changed out of his uniform, Dad came in from the front of the house as I finished, and he went right to the sink too. We were all super well-trained. Anything to keep April safe.

“You’re coming Wednesday, right?” I asked April as I took a seat opposite her. “Hospital administrators might stop by. We need our elf.”

“I’m coming. Mom made me a new mask that matches the costume since it’s still flu season, but it’s hardly canon for the trickster elf to need a mask and gloves.”