Still, I knew she was trying, and it made me feel good. When I left the lunch that day I felt a lot better and more relaxed about everything. I ended up following Shane to her house so I could meet with Alice and Kallie there. They were just chilling out watching TV with Jenny in the living room.

“I was gonna lay her down, but she didn’t seem to want to. I figured this is pretty close to napping anyway,” Alice told me softly when I walked in and found her on the couch with Kallie curled up next to her. She wasn’t sleeping, but she was definitely close.

“Let’s go home,” I told her quietly. “She’s practically asleep anyway, and I’m sure Shane and Jenny want their house back.”

“Yeah,” Alice nodded. “Come on sweetie, let’s go home. Maybe we can go get supper someplace. You want some chicken nuggets?”

Kallie nodded sleepily and raised her arms to be picked up. Alice did, and Kallie held her arms out to Shane and Jenny for hugs. “We’ll see you in a few days,” I told them right before we left.

I followed Alice home and we both put Kallie to bed. “You thinking McDonald’s again? I heard that whole chicken nuggets thing,” I teased her.

“Well, she likes them. And she never asks for them, she’s always really good. There’s no reason we can’t go,” Alice explained.

“I know, I was just kidding. We can go when she wakes up, okay? Let’s go take a nap.”

Alice giggled. “You want to take a nap? What is this, the whole ‘if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em’ kinda thing?”

I took her hand and started to pull her toward the bedroom. “What’s wrong with that? Naps are good.”

“Yeah, they’re all right,” Alice agreed. “Did the lunch go okay?”

I nodded and puller her down into the bed with me. She giggled and snuggled up to me, resting her head on my shoulder when I spoke. “It was good. Oh, and even though I forgot to call her, Helena said she’s coming to the party.”

“She better!” Alice said, raising her head off my shoulder too look at me. “I told her I’d burn her house down if she doesn’t.”