“Abbie!” Hannah’s admonishment comes only seconds later, as she appears at the end of the hall, hurrying toward them. “Gentle!”

But Caroline gives Abbie a reassuring smile when Abbie immediately lets go and backs up a step, bit blue eyes looking up at her with worry written all over her face. “Sorry.”

It’s been like this since Halloween, though Abbie hasn’t generally needed any reminders from Hannah to be gentle when she interacts with Caroline. Because Abbie – on first sight – had been very sweetly concerned about touching her and if she’d hurt her.

“I’m totally fine. No need for gentle hugs, unless you’re coming for my face.” She crosses her eyes at Abbie, which works to wipe off the concerned look there. But even her bruises are fading quickly, mostly gone now. The little cut along her cheek is healing nicely and the swelling in her nose is down so much that Caroline finally believes that there won’t be any lasting disfigurement.

Abbie laughs and shakes her head as Hannah steps up behind her. She leans in and narrows her eyes as she stares at Caroline’s face. And she thinks there’s some relief in Hannah’s eyes, too, as she notes with a murmur, “Almost back to normal.”

Caroline swallows hard against the immediate feelings of want inside of her that stir as soon as Hannah is that close. She clears her throat. “Soon I’m going to have to start wearing a mask to fit in at the clown show again.” She snaps her fingers in disappointment, loving Abbie’s laugh and Hannah’s reluctant smile of amusement.

They have buffalo chicken macaroni and cheese – “It’s the tastiest thing I could come up with on last moment’s notice.” Hannah arches a challenging eyebrow at her.

“It’s perfect.” And she means it – before Abbie helps Hannah clear dinner, both of them making her stay where she is.

Before Abbie brings out a plate of frosted sugar cookies, walking slowly so that she doesn’t stumble. Hannah’s hands are resting on her shoulders and they approach her while singing Happy Birthday, a single candle sticking out of the cookie at the top.

Dark eyes are glued on the dessert as her mind immediately flashes back to the moment she’d met Hannah, that holiday party at Wilkens & Granger. With a plateful of these cookies in hand when Hannah had approached her. She’s been pretty convinced that there is no way their meeting was as impressed on Hannah’s mind as it is on hers.

“I love these.” She quirks her head to the side, looking up at Hannah.

Gray eyes meet her own, inscrutable, even as her voice is soft. “I know.”

“Blow out the candle!” Abbie urges, pushing the plate toward her.