IMOGEN'S POV
The front door closed behind us with a soft click, and suddenly Isaac's house felt too quiet. Joseph dropped what he was reading by the couch and ran towards us with a great big smile on his face. He looked around like he was seeing me for the first time. But I knew what he was looking for. Who he was looking for.
"Where's Talia?" he asked, his voice bright and expectant. "I thought you would be bringing her here. I wanted us to make pasta tonight. She said she'd teach me how to make that pasta thing with the cheese."
My throat closed up. I stood there in the entryway, still wearing my coat, still holding Isaac's car keys, and I couldn't make my mouth work.
Isaac cleared his throat behind me. "Hey buddy," he said to Joseph. "Why don't you wash your hands?" It was a stupid response but I figured, like me, he also did not know what to say. "Your mom needs to talk to you about something."
