There Are No Words

Chapter 22E

Jenny

I breathe in the banana scent of her favorite shampoo and it feels like home. After two long years, Siofra and I finally get to hang out again.

"Miss...you...so...much," I say, letting her go.

Siofra wipes a tear from her left eye and steps back.

"Me, too, Jenny," she sniffles. "It's been so long. So much has happened."

We both sit down on her front porch. The rockers creak as we sit back on them. I can hear Siofra's mom banging around in the kitchen, shutting the oven door as she takes a pan out of it. Oh man, that pie smells good.

"How've you been? Is everything ok? Are you doing alright now?" Siofra asks.

I nod. "I am."

"I was going to stop by when you arrived, but I haven't had the chance to yet," she rambles. "Did you start to unpack? How are your grandparents? Do they like the assisted living home?"

"Good...yes. They like," I reply. "I...no, have not unpacked.

I have......still have...call Caoi...Caoilainn, too...I will...later."

Siofra is quiet. "Yeah, I know she misses you," she says.

Rocking back and forth, I look at Siofra and wonder if, or how much, Cian has filled her in on my current drama.

"So, um, you and Walker..." she asks tentatively, looking at me out of the corner of her eye. She keeps rocking on the chair, but has slowed down.

I look at her and away again. I let out a long breath. I twist my lip. "Walker..." I roll my eyes and blow my hair out of my eyes. I look back over at her and she's quiet. Then I notice a twitch. She looks away but I see her start to smile.

She looks back and we both laugh.

"Jenny, some things never change!" she laughs. "Damn, you two are impossible."

I crack up. "I...know." I say, shaking my head.

Suddenly, Siofra stops rocking and reaches for the awen on my necklace. "What's that?"

I take off the awen and give it Siofra. Then I reach into my purse and pull out the poem I have folded there. I always carry it with me. Siofra squints as she takes the worn paper from me. She carefully opens it up and her eyes widen. When she's done reading the poem, she folds it back up. She hands it and the awen back to me.

"Wow," she whispers.

"Yeah...wow," I reply.

A few minutes later, Siofra's mom comes out onto the porch. She hands each of us a mug of hot cocoa from her tray.

"How're you doing, Jenny?" She asks. "You girls alright, Siofra?"

"We're good, Mama," she responds. "Thanks. This is perfect.

I use my spoon to twirl the mini-marshmallows around in my mug. Her mom remembered; I love marshmallows. Siofra, on the other hand, does not. When I was around, Siofra's mom always kept two canisters of hot cocoa in the house; one with and one without marshmallows. That way, we could both enjoy what we like. I can't believe she remembered.

"Thank you!" I smile up at her over the rim of the mug.

"My pleasure, Jenny. So good to have you back," she says, putting the tray down to come over and give me a hug. "We've missed you so much," she says in my ear.

"Missed...you, too," I say.

"Well, I'll leave you two to catch up," she says. "Siofra, call me if you need me. When the pie cools, I'll bring some out to both of you."