Her mom’s dark eyes give them both measuring looks as they step over the threshold. “Caroline, I can’t believe you’re here before noon!” Her smile is exasperated, the way her mom often looks at her when she runs late. It’s sheer warmth, though, as she turns to Hannah. “Your influence, I’m sure.”

Caroline’s mouth falls open in mock-offense. “Excuse you! I baked a pie for today and everything.”

The smile on her mom’s face falls as her gaze dips to the dessert Caroline holds up in one hand. She and Abbie’s pie attempt had been… something. It doesn’t look wonderful, but they made it together and Caroline is still proud of it.

Her mom’s gaze is skeptical. “You baked a pie?”

“Okay, now that tone is just upsetting. You’re going to embarrass me in front of my friend, ma,” she purposefully adopts a petulant tone that makes Hannah giggle next to her.

Her mom reaches out to take the pie from her. “Well, I’m sorry, honey. But, I mean.” Her eyebrows lift comically high as she stares at the dessert in question. “You know, we could always use more desserts…”

Caroline doesn’t have it in her to be actually offended at all. “It’s Hannah’s recipe, so it will probably taste good even if it doesn’t look like much.”

Her mom grins, her tone joking even though there is definite relief in her eyes, “Well at least there’s that.”

Caroline rolls her eyes dramatically at Hannah. “The things I put up with here.”

Hannah’s expression is bright with laughter, the look of it lighting up her whole face. Happiness on Hannah is addictive to see and Caroline forces herself to look back at her mom.

She lifts her other hand to show the bag she’s carrying, waving it gently. “And I brought wine.”

“Oh, thank god.” Her mom laughs, taking that from her as well, before she leans in to kiss her cheeks and then up to her tiptoes to do the same to Hannah. “Hannah, come with me to the kitchen. Caroline, bring your coats to the guest room before you disappear.”

Her mom waits for her orders to be carried out and Hannah slips off her jacket. Caroline saw her outfit in its entirety when she’d picked Hannah and Abbie up, but still… she looks so good.

She really isn’t sure how good a job she’s doing of hiding her feelings on her face as she reaches out to take Hannah’s coat.

“You’re failing,” Hannah whispers, her breath warm against Caroline’s ear, as she brushes by her.

***

A few hours later, Caroline is exactly where she usually is – in the basement with the kids.