Geenie wasn’t entirely sure what they were laughing about, but the sight of Diana’s puffed-up cheeks and bunched lips was enough to build a laugh in her own belly. Once they reached the kitchen, they looked at one another and let go; Diana opened her mouth and howled, grabbing the handle of the stove to steady herself. Geenie collapsed on the damp tiles and, catching sight of Kitty’s abandoned bucket, laughed harder. It wasn’t until her ribs were aching and her cheeks felt as if they’d been stretched behind her ears that she noticed Diana had stopped laughing and was sitting at the table, staring at her own hands. Geenie swallowed another giggle and got up from the floor. ‘Are you all right?’ Diana’s dark hair fell over her eyes as her head drooped forward. ‘How did you manage it?’ asked Geenie. ‘You slipped right past her.’ She stepped closer to her friend. ‘Diana?’ ‘He didn’t come.’ ‘Who didn’t?’ Diana didn’t reply, but Geenie knew the answer.
