Novelty of Noah - ON HOLD

Six

Adelia had given Noah twenty hours to process the news of Henry leaving Hemlocks Yard. She had allowed him space and promised herself she would not disturb him. Especially after his outburst yesterday.

She was unsure whether he had acted that way because of something she said. Adelia had hoped he was only upset because he wanted to clear his head and she was preventing him to do so. Despite his eruption, Noah had decided to take Adelia's advice. He tried his best not to show his pain and hurt in front of Henry. Noah somewhat agreed with Adelia. He did not want Henry's last memory of himself being him moping around over this situation.

It was the next day and Adelia was asked to attend her shift earlier than usual. Usually, Adelia would arrive at lunchtime, a couple of hours before everyone would return from school. However, today Adelia had the choice to clock in at 9 am.

The spirited young couple who were fostering Henry in less than twenty-four hours time had arranged to visit for their final time at 10 am today. Mauve thought it would be beneficial for Adelia to witness the visitation side of the fostering process. Adelia was not too fussed on experiencing the whole process, she was just happy she had the chance to meet the couple taking Henry into their home.

Henry had warmed to Adelia over the past two weeks. He was a very affectionate and caring child, it was hard for anyone to not bond with him.

Adelia began to make her way to the kitchen. As she approached the end of the hallway, she heard a wave of shrieking and laughing, along with harsh eruptions of clattering from some sort of toy. The noises were coming from the living room. This caused her to snoop around the corner of the archway and peep inside.

Sat on the carpet with his legs crossed and his lanky back slouched, was Noah. Opposite of him, laying on his stomach and swinging his legs around in the air, was Henry. On the ground, separating the two of them was a familiar game of Hungry Hippos.

Since Noah's back was facing towards Adelia, she could not see his facial expressions. By the look on Henry's face, Henry was having the time of his life.

Adelia was now grateful to herself for requesting that Noah disguise his disappointment of Henry's near absence. Whether what she had said to Noah actually generated the site in front of her now, she was grateful either way. Just after receiving Noah's reaction yesterday, she wished she had not said anything at all. But if she had not, Noah might have been isolating himself in his bedroom, while Henry played Hungry Hippos alone on the living room floor.

Adelia was originally making her way to the kitchen to make herself and Mauve a cup of tea. However, she felt a wave of generosity hit her and she wanted to spoil Henry on his second last day at Hemlocks Yard.

"Boys?" Adelia interrupted the two males situated on the carpet of the living room, "Have you had breakfast? Would you like me to make you anything?"

Adelia caught Noah flinch as her voice erupted from his blind spot. He did not turn around, making it very difficult for Adelia to read him. Henry began to perk up from his position of laying flat of the ground.

"Can you do eggs and soldiers?" Henry let excitement take over him and squawked his request at the top of his small lungs.

"Boiled eggs and soldiers?" Adelia giggled as she confirmed his request. She remembered when her father would cook her boiled eggs and soldiers, every Saturday morning. He would take two slices of bread and cut them into ten slithers, earning the name 'soldiers'.

Henry nodded frantically and returned to swinging his feet from left to right.

"What's the magic word?" Adelia asked Henry.