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Corinne’s eyes cut to ives a lackluster, “Hello”

“Hi Corinne,” I say with a smile “It’s nice to meet you”

Her eyes drop to her book again, and Trista’s eyes go dim orry

Jolene walks over to the couch and sits down beside Corinne as she says, “Now, you two get out of here and enjoy your night Corinne and I are going to read some books for a while and maybe watch a movie”

Corinne doesn’t react, but I catch the look between irl, yet we can’t ht in her world”

Jolene gives a confident nod to Trista—a silent stateot it covered Trista sht, sweet girl I’ll see you to for pancake day, okay?”

At that, Corinne lifts her head and gives Trista a delighted smile “Can I help you flip them?”

Tristato flip them, silly”

Corinne giggles, and the lines of worry around Trista’s eyes disappear

“Okay, we’re out of here,” Trista says as she turns to me with a s to her mom, I say, “It was nice to meet you, Jolene And you too, Corinne”

Jolene gives me a sweet set a shy sirl

We walk out of Trista’s home and e hit the sidewalk that cuts over to the driveway, I say, “Corinne having a bad day?”

Trista sighs in frustration “Danielle was supposed to call her today but didn’t”

Never orically say I officially can’t stand either of her siblings