Chapter 96

Ollie POV

Hypervigilant. That was a big word. I didn’t know what it meant, but it sounded like something doctors said.

“Come on,” Grandma Elena said gently. “Let me make you some coffee and breakfast. You must be starving.”

“I should get dressed first,” Mama said, looking down at Ramon’s shirt. “I just ran down here in—”

“Nobody cares,” Aunt Sarah interrupted, smiling. “Lake, we’re family. You could come down in your underwear and we wouldn’t bat an eye.”

“Please don’t,” Uncle Rafael said, making a face. “I don’t need that visual with my morning coffee.”

“Rafael!” Aunt Michelle smacked his arm, but she was laughing.

Mama laughed too, just a little bit, and I felt something relax in my chest. When Mama laughed, even small laughs, it meant things were okay. It meant the scary stuff was getting smaller.

“Can I finish my T-Rex first?” I asked, looking at my painting. “Before we eat? I’m almost done with the spikes.”

Mama looke