1.9 Friction

In my more romantic moments, I think of us as a big family, but we’re kind of a dysfunctional one.

You can hardly be surprised. Most of us have lost our loved ones, and we’re all cut off from our people. One evening, Adelle and Jesse had an enormous fight. I don’t know what it was about.

The next morning, Adelle took out her pent up rage on the sandcastles she and I had built the day before. Adelle is such a quiet, gentle girl that it frightened me to see this side of her.

But by that night, the two of them talked things out. From that day forward, they seemed to share a bond.

They would sometimes spend entire afternoons working on their personal projects in companionable silence.

I worry about her, and I do my best to draw her out in a nonthreatening way.

I am still a terrible cook. I admit it.

I haven’t talked to Jesse much. I guess, to be honest, I’m kind of avoiding him. It seems like if we start talking, I’ll have to face things I’m just not ready for. We’re the adults here, and we have three children to care for. That’s all I can think about now.

Adelle and Timi, on the other hand, seem to be seeing each other for the first time.