1.

At the Gilbert house, Rachel was busy in the kitchen preparing dinner for their new neighbors. The kitchen was filled with the delicious aroma of macaroni and cheese, spaghetti and sauce, spicy meatballs, and a fresh vegetable salad. For dessert, she had also prepared a banana tart, hoping their guests would enjoy the meal.

Joseph was happily helping his mother in the kitchen, although he was more excited about having Olivia and her parents over than he was about the food.

He couldn’t wait to see her again.

He had liked her from the moment he saw her standing outside her new home, looking shy and a little unsure of herself. There was something about her that made him want to talk to her and help her feel welcome.

Maybe Olivia and I will become best friends, he thought with a small smile.

“Baby?” Rachel called, drawing his attention away from his thoughts.

“Yes, Mom?”

“It seems you really like Olivia,” she said, giving him a knowing smile.

“Yes, Mom. She’s pretty, and I’m so happy to have a new friend.” Joseph paused for a moment before adding, “She looks quite shy, but I’ll try to make her feel more comfortable around me.”

Rachel smiled at her son’s eagerness.

“Mom?”

“Yes, sweetheart?”

“Jordan doesn’t like Olivia.”

Rachel’s smile faded slightly as she looked at him. “Why do you say that?”

“She waved at him earlier today, but he ignored her.”

“Oh, sweetie, don’t come to that conclusion just yet,” Rachel said gently. “Maybe Jordan didn’t see her wave, or maybe he just wasn’t in the mood. You know he has his days.”

Joseph shrugged at his mother’s response, but he still wasn’t completely convinced.

He knew his brother well, and something told him Jordan’s reaction to Olivia wasn’t simply because he had been in a bad mood.

___

After they finished preparing dinner, Rachel went upstairs to change into something more appropriate for their guests.

Joseph headed to the living room, where he found Jordan sitting on the couch, completely absorbed in his favorite cartoon.

Joseph stood in front of the television, blocking his brother’s view.

“Jordan, why didn’t you wave back at Olivia earlier today?” he asked.

Jordan frowned and looked up at him.

“Get out of my way, Joseph. I’m trying to watch my favorite cartoon.”

“Not until you answer my question.”

Jordan rolled his eyes and turned his attention back to the television, hoping his brother would eventually move. When Joseph remained standing in front of the screen, Jordan sighed and stood up.

“I don’t know why you’re making such a big deal about it.”

“Because she waved at you,” Joseph replied. “You could have at least waved back.”

Jordan shrugged and started toward the doorway.

“Olivia is a nice girl,” Joseph added.

Jordan stopped.

He slowly turned around and stared at his brother.

“Yeah, right.”

“What?” Joseph asked.

“Can’t you see, Joseph? She’s fake. She’s only going to come between us.”

Joseph stared at him in disbelief.

“How can you even say that when you don’t know her?”

“I just know.”

“You don’t know anything about her,” Joseph argued. “You haven’t even talked to her.”

Jordan’s expression hardened.

“You know what? Forget it.”

He turned and walked upstairs before Joseph could say anything else.

Joseph remained in the living room, watching his brother disappear up the stairs. He couldn’t understand why Jordan was so determined to dislike a girl he had only met for a few seconds.

___

Upstairs, Jordan walked into his bedroom and slammed the door behind him.

He stood there for a moment, breathing heavily, before walking over to his bed and sitting down.

He couldn’t believe Joseph was being so blind.

How could his brother not see what was happening?

Jordan had a feeling that this new girl was going to take all of Joseph’s attention away from him. They had always been together, and he wasn’t about to let some girl they barely knew come between them.

He clenched his fists as the thought crossed his mind again.

___

About thirty minutes later, Rachel was placing a jug of juice on the dining table when she heard a knock at the front door.

“Honey, could you please get the door?” she called to her husband.

“Sure,” George replied.

He walked to the door and opened it to find Olivia standing between her parents.

“Hi, I’m George, Rachel’s husband. You must be our new neighbors. It’s nice to meet you.”

“It’s nice to meet you too,” Henry replied.

“Please, come in. Make yourselves comfortable.”

George stepped aside and welcomed them into the house, showing them into the living room.

Olivia followed her parents quietly, taking in everything around her. The house felt warm and welcoming, and she could already smell the delicious food coming from the kitchen. She stayed close to her mother as they settled onto the couch.

Henry and George began talking while they waited for Rachel to join them.

A few moments later, Rachel came out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on a kitchen towel.

“Well, hello there! You came right on time,” she teased with a smile.

“Hello, Rachel. This is my husband, Henry,” Jennifer said, introducing them properly.

“It’s nice to meet you, Henry. I’m Rachel, and this is my family’s humble home. You’re welcome here anytime.”

“Thanks, Rachel. It’s also a pleasure to meet my wife’s newest friend,” Henry replied with a smile.

“I’m flattered.” Rachel laughed.

She then turned her attention to Olivia, who was sitting quietly beside her mother.

“Well, hello, beautiful. How are you?”

Olivia looked up at her and gave her a shy smile.

“I’m fine.”

Rachel smiled warmly at her.

“She really is beautiful. I always wanted to have a little girl, but after having those two, I don’t think I could handle another child. They’re already such a handful.”

Everyone laughed at Rachel’s comment.

Just then, Joseph came downstairs and walked into the living room.

Rachel noticed him and smiled before turning her attention back to the others.

“There he is,” she said, pointing toward him. Then she turned to Joseph. “Where is Jordan, honey?”

“He’s in his room,” Joseph replied.

“Can you be a sweetheart and go call him down? Let him know that our guests are here.”

“Okay, Mom.” Joseph nodded.

He quickly headed upstairs to get his brother.

Rachel looked around at everyone and smiled.

“Okay! I think we can all go to the dining table now before the food gets cold.”

Everyone got up and made their way into the dining room.

The table was filled with all the food Rachel had prepared earlier, and the warm smell of the meal filled the room. Olivia quietly followed her parents, taking a seat beside her mother as everyone settled around the table.

___

After dinner, Jennifer went into the kitchen with Rachel to help her with the dishes. At the dining table, Henry and George remained behind, chatting about politics and sports while the children settled into the living room.

Joseph sat beside Olivia on the couch, while Jordan sat on the other side, his arms folded across his chest.

“So, Olivia, what city did you and your parents live in before coming here?” Joseph asked.

“We used to live in Boston,” she replied quietly.

“Why did your parents decide to move here?”

“My dad got transferred to a new hospital here.”

“Oh…” Joseph nodded. “Did you have any friends back in Boston?”

“Yes. Three of them.”

“I guess you’re missing them right now?”

Olivia nodded.

She was beginning to feel shy from answering so many questions. Joseph wasn’t doing anything wrong—he was actually being very friendly—but she wasn’t used to talking so much with someone she had only just met.

She glanced down at her hands and began fidgeting with her fingers.

What made her even more uncomfortable was the way Jordan was staring at her. She could feel his eyes on her even when she tried not to look in his direction.

Joseph noticed how quiet she had become.

“Don’t worry,” he said with a reassuring smile. “From now on, Jordan and I will be your new friends.”

He hoped his words would make Olivia feel better. He genuinely wanted to become close friends with her, and he wanted her to feel like she belonged.

“Count me out, Joseph.”

Jordan’s voice was cold.

Olivia’s heart sank. She slowly lowered her head, avoiding his angry gaze.

“I can never be friends with her,” Jordan added.

The words were enough to bring tears to Olivia’s eyes.

She quickly blinked, trying to stop them from falling, but one tear escaped and rolled down her cheek.

Olivia wiped the tear away quickly, hoping no one had noticed.

She didn’t understand why Jordan disliked her. She had only just met him, and as far as she knew, she hadn’t done anything to him.

Why doesn’t he like me?

For the first time since arriving in Chicago, Olivia wondered if making new friends was going to be much harder than she had imagined.