As they approached their shared porch area, Noah picked up the remains of her step ladder and walked it around to the trash pail as Maddie stood silently and waited. When he returned, he stopped in front of her. “Are you sure you’re okay?” He nodded. “The doctor said you need to take it easy.” He nodded. Maddie shifted from one foot to the other. “So…um…do you need anything? I know it’s late, but…are you hungry? Have you had dinner? It wouldn’t be hard for me to…” “I’m fine. I’m not hungry,” he said, his voice low and carried a hint of agitation. “I’m just going to go.” He made to step around her. “Oh,” she said softly. “Okay.” Noah continued to look at her, his expression blank. “If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask.”
