Jessica
"Where's Cookie?" Ava asked after she sat down at the small table in the kitchen, where Jessica was fussing over the dishwasher.
She shrugged. "I dunno. But if I had to guess, I'd say she's with Zyan."
"That little shit stole my cat from me," Ava muttered under her breath.
Jessica chuckled. She could still remember when they'd left Cookie with Zyan while Carter had taken them to pick up a second cat and a companion for her. When they'd returned with the second fur-ball, they'd found Zyan spread out over the couch with Cookie curled up on his chest, fast asleep. Zyan still wouldn't admit it, but they all knew how attached he was to the cat by now.
As if he'd felt that he was needed, Chip suddenly strolled through the door and hopped onto Ava's lap, bumping his head into her hand to show his need to be petted. Ava obliged.
"What do you want to do this weekend?" Ava asked after a few minutes of silently stroking Chip's soft fur.
"I'm not sure. But I feel like we need to spend some time outside. It's been too long since we've done that, and I refuse to become an old stay-at-home lady."
Jessica turned to see Ava's smile and watched her wrinkly dark fingers contrast with the white and orange fur. "Okay. Then let's go outside."
They kept up the conversation while Jessica finished loading the dishwasher, and only when she was done did Ava pick up Chip to set him down on the cushioned chair, so she could stand up.
"I'll call down the boys, or they'll complain about missing the start of the episode again," Ava announced.
She was already heading through the doorway into the living room, where the staircase led up to the second floor, when she heard their voices.
"Hey, Jessie!"
"Hm?"
"Come here and listen to this."
"What is it?" Jessica asked, already on her way.
Ava simply grinned and pointed up the stairs. They were both quiet for several minutes as they listened.
"Oh wow," Jessica said. "How many languages is that?"
"I'm not sure. But it's gotta be at least five."
"They don't sound like they're angry," Jessica observed. "Usually they only switch that often when they're fighting."
"Maybe it's not a matter of being mad, but rather of being emotional in general."
"Should we interrupt them?"
Ava shook her head. "Nah, I think we should leave them to it for now. I'll try again in twenty minutes or so."
Jessica nodded. "Well…I don't wanna miss half the episode, though. Go and switch on the TV. I'll get us some drinks."