Page 26 of A Little Christmas Wish

“What happened?” Matthieu demanded as Ink set her down in front of the sink and turned on the tap.

Then he held her hand gently under the cold water.

“Oh no! Not the cold water. I hate the cold water. My hand is fine.”

“Has she burned her hand?” Matthieu asked worriedly. “How?”

“I surprised her and she spilled her hot cocoa,” Ink explained.

“I told you that she was jumpy,” Matthieu scolded.

It took her a moment to realize that he was scolding Ink and not her.

“Yeah, I realize that now,” Ink replied in a low, grumbly voice.

“Why would you scare her?” Matthieu added.

“Guys!”

“I thought you were exaggerating,” Ink told him. “She hasn’t seemed jumpy before now.”

“Guys!” she said again, trying to get their attention.

“Well, she was when we were out shopping and that seems to have continued on even once we got back here,” Matthieu said.

“Guys!” Were they going to just keep ignoring her when she was standing right here?

“Fuck. What is going on?” Ink muttered.

“Will you guys stop talking about me like I’m not here?” she commanded, stomping her foot.

Both of them fell silent and stared down at her. She drew her hand from the water.

“Put your hand back,” they barked together.

Okay, then.

“Did you just stomp your foot?” Ink drawled, coming around to stand on her right side while Matthieu stood on her left.

She stared over at him nervously. “You were talking about me like I’m not even here.”

He sighed and glanced over her head at Matthieu. “I guess we were. Sorry about that, Button.”

“Sorry, Betsy,” Matthieu said sheepishly.

“All right, then. Can I take my hand out? It’s starting to feel numb from the cold.”

Ink drew it out and inspected it. “Leave it under the water a bit longer. Matthieu, you can head off now.”

“You’re staying?” Matthieu asked.

“Yep, I’m home for the day.”

What? But it was only lunchtime.

“I’ll get Zippy from school later,” Ink told him.

Matthieu nodded and lightly patted Betsy’s back. “Everything will be okay, Betsy.”

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