Chapter 40: Jenny’s Kind of Quiet

Mouth open, Jenny stared at the girl. Her jet-black hair hung in pigtails just over her ears, and she had dark brown eyes that flashed with intelligence. Judging by the way her upper body and arms wavered constantly, Jenny guessed that Brithania had cerebral palsy. Her speech was a bit difficult to understand, but Jenny made out her name.

“Well, I see two of my favorite people in the world have just met.”

Jenny looked up to see Cole grinning at her.

“I wondered where you’d gone off to,” he said to the little girl, tugging her hair playfully. “Your group is up next.”

Cole stepped toward Jenny. “Brithania, I’d like you to meet my friend Jenny. Jenny, this is Brithania.”

The little girl motored closer. “Hi, Jenny.”

Heart pounding, Jenny fluttered her fingers in a wave.

Cole frowned slightly at Brithania. “Jenny’s kind of quiet.”

Coming even closer, the little girl reached up and took Jenny’s hand. “That’s okay. You don’t have to talk if you don’t want to.”