“Here, you’re probably thirsty,” I said to Alice as I picked up the juice container and put the straw into it. She sighed and rolled her eyes at me. “Sorry, that was stupid. Of course you’re thirsty.” I moved until I was sitting on the bed, and I was happy to see her use her hand to guide the straw to her mouth. It didn’t exactly work, but it was better than nothing, and a lot better than it had been before.

We were both really startled to hear someone clearing their throat at the door to the room. I glanced over to see Charlie standing in the doorway, looking a little rumpled but more rested than he’d been the last time I’d seen him.

“You scared me,” I told him, although in retrospect I had no need to. It must have been incredibly obvious. I’d jumped a little when I’d first heard him, and had accidently removed the straw from Alice’s mouth when I’d done so. “Shit, sorry,” I muttered to her, but she was already using her hand to guide it back to her mouth, glaring at me all the while.

“I’m sorry I scared you. That was sort of what I was trying to avoid with the whole clearing my throat thing,” Charlie said as he walked into the room. “Hi Mom. Looks like you’re getting some more control over your hands. I spoke with Gemma for a minute before I came in, and she told me you’re getting better every time she checks in on you.”

“Yeah, hopefully she’ll be in her own room soon,” I told him, unable to stop myself from grinning like an idiot as I said it. He just laughed.

“Yeah, Gemma mentioned that again just now, but I already knew. I’ve been here a lot, remember?” he asked, and I immediately felt stupid. He must have seen me lower my eyes, because he touched my shoulder. “It’s okay, you’re tired.”

“I’m all right,” I protested, but I felt both Charlie and Alice looking at me, so I shrugged. “Shane’s coming to get me soon. Are you done for the day?” I asked Charlie.

“At the station, yeah. We got everything filmed by three for the seven o’clock show, and anything that happens later can be covered by the evening guys. I’m actually taking Angie to dinner tonight. We got a babysitter…” He must have seen me starting to open my mouth, because he spoke hurriedly to cut me off. “Don’t even think about it, you’re tired and I want you to go home and go to bed.”