When their food arrived, the three of them ate in a tense hush, but the deafening silence was soon broken by Neon. Perhaps the little boy felt the palpable awkwardness vibrating between Eli and his sister, or maybe he simply detested a quiet dinner table. In any case, his innocent chatter acted as a saving grace, allowing Eli and Belle to converse without being entirely weighed down by the complexity of their current situation.
"Belle, am I still going to start school in three weeks?" Neon asked between bites, his large eyes turning toward her.
The question drew Eli's gaze straight to Belle as well. As her primary employer, he was acutely aware of how chaotic her life had been since the accident. Though she hadn't been formally terminated from her nursing position at the hospital, she couldn't legally practice either, leaving her entirely without a paycheck. For the time being, she was completely dependent on Eli's financial goodwill.
