TWENTY FOUR

It's been added another two days. Don and I haven't talked, and I hope to speak to him privately after dinner tonight.

With a spoon in my mouth, I glance at each person at the dinner table.

Effie and Logan take turns feeding Zara and making airplane noises; Thea is breastfeeding Jacob, and Lily and Liam come over for dinner with us and do the same with Ramsey.

Seth, Ares, and Leo are having an eating contest to see who can fit their cheeks with food and not make each other laugh. But suddenly, Rex created a face and noodles dripping from Seth's nose, making my son and Ares laugh.

Then my eyes land on Don, who sits quietly and eats his dinner. My heart is racing with anxiety, wanting him to glance his eyes at me. But when he didn't, he pushed himself, grabbed the empty plate, and put it in the sink before leaving.

I whimper as if imaginary dog ears have flattened from disappointment.

I bite my spoon and frown.

"Don't worry," she whispers, "The girls and I will clean up here. Go."

I inh