Before Chloe could provide an answer, another voice cut sharply through the humid afternoon air. Jeffrey stepped forward quickly from the patio area with a firm and defensive tone.
“Mom, just leave her alone and let her sit there,” Jeffrey stated as he looked down at them both. Martha blinked in genuine surprise and looked up at her son while trying to understand the sudden sharpness in his demeanor.
“Jeffrey, I was only checking on her because she looks a bit peaked,” Martha explained. He waved his hand dismissively and insisted that the girl was perfectly fine and just being moody.
Monica sat nearby in a wicker patio chair while scrolling through her phone, barely glancing up at the interaction. “Really, Martha, it is absolutely nothing to worry about,” Monica added calmly without ever looking away from the bright screen.
The words were simple enough, but something about the way they were delivered felt strangely cold to Martha’s ears. Martha forced a polite smile and murmured an apology before standing up to head back toward the kitchen.