Page 4 of Once Silenced

As they stepped through the front door, jubilant chaos greeted them.Gabriela, with her characteristic efficiency, orchestrated the final movements of their evening’s feast, as she sprinkled herbs over simmering dishes.

Riley’s gaze swept across the room, catching April’s excitement sparking in the air as she flitted between silverware and plates, her laughter lilting above the din.Jilly, not far behind, attempted to mirror her sister’s enthusiasm.

“Happy birthday, sweetheart,” Riley said.She wrapped her arms around April, pulling the girl into a hug.Riley felt a bittersweet pang as she realized this would be April’s last birthday before starting her first year at Jefferson Bell University at the end of this month.

“Seventeen, huh?I remember when that seemed old,” Bill said, a twinkle of mirth in his eyes.

April’s response—a playful eye-roll followed by a reluctant grin—was a silent acknowledgment of the affectionate banter that had become their unique language.

Gabriela unveiled the feast with the flourish of a seasoned maestra.The aroma of spices filled the room.Pepián, hearty and rich, promised comfort in every spoonful.Chiles rellenos, plump and oozing with cheese and meat, were a symphony of flavors waiting to be savored.And the ensalada de palmito, vibrant and fresh, offered a crisp counterpoint to the complex layers of the other dishes.

April laughed, bright and clear, as Jilly offered her own recap of her day at summer school, laced with a sarcasm that could only be described as endearingly brash.The younger girl’s tough exterior, often manifested in sharp wit, was something Riley had come to appreciate.

Riley scooped up a forkful of Pepián, relishing the rich tapestry of flavors.As the conversation shifted, she told about her afternoon lecture on criminal profiling, painting broad strokes that detailed the complexities of the human psyche without dipping into the darker shades of her day.She didn’t mention the encounter with a pushy student that still bothered her.

The hum of conversation around the dinner table took on a different note as April shared her intentions.

“I’ve decided I want to stay in the dorms,” she said, a tremor of both excitement and trepidation in her voice.“I know Jefferson Bell University is close, but I really want the full college experience, you know?”

Riley had seen this coming; it was only natural for a girl like April, so fiercely independent, to crave the freedom that college promised.But before Riley could state her support, Jilly snapped angrily,

“So you’re just going to leave us?”Her fork clattered against her plate.”I thought we were finally a real family, but I guess that doesn’t matter to you.”

“Jilly, that’s not fair!”April protested.“Of course, you matter to me.It’s just that …”

But April’s justification was left dangling.She just didn’t have the words she needed to say what needed to be said.

“Jilly, April is still going to be part of our lives,” Riley said.“Staying on campus doesn’t mean she’s leaving us behind.”

“Whatever,” Jilly cried out as she fled upstairs.

Riley exchanged a look with Bill.“I’ve got this,” she murmured, giving his hand a reassuring squeeze.When she went upstairs, Jilly’s bedroom door was closed, and Riley tapped lightly before entering.

The room was a patchwork of tough girl posters flanked by hidden stuffed animals.Jilly lay on her bed, face obscured by the pillow she clung to.

“Hey,” Riley said softly as she perched on the edge of the bed.“Want to talk about it?”

Jilly’s response, muffled by the pillow, was almost indecipherable.“There’s nothing to talk about.April wants to leave.It’s fine.”

Riley let out a sigh.“Honey,” she said, “April moving to the dorms doesn’t mean she’s leaving the family.”

The bed shifted slightly as Jilly turned, her eyes red-rimmed.“But what if she likes it better there?What if she forgets about us?”

Riley knew that tone, the hard shell Jilly had built to protect herself from a world that hadn’t always been kind.

“Sweetheart,” she whispered, her voice a tender murmur meant to soothe the raw edges of Jilly’s world.“April leaving for college won’t change how much she cares about you.She loves you deeply, and nothing can take that away.”

“But I’m not really her sister, am I?I’m just...adopted.”Jilly’s words were muffled, a fragile whisper lost amidst the fortress of pillows and stuffed animals that lay scattered around her.Riley felt a pang of sadness.

I thought we were past this,she thought.

“Listen to me,” Riley said, every word marked with conviction.“Being adopted doesn’t make you any less a part of this family.April loves you, Bill loves you, and I love you.That is what makes a family real, not blood.”She watched as Jilly nodded slowly, the motion hesitant but gaining momentum.

Jilly reached up, her fingers trembling as she wiped away the remnants of tears, and Riley saw a shift in the girl’s demeanor.

“But you know, you really hurt April’s feelings down there.It’s her birthday, and she was excited to share her plans with us.I think you owe her an apology.”

“Yeah, I know,” Jilly admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.“I didn’t mean to ruin her birthday.”

---