264 Winona (Part 1)

The trio ate happily, with Winona praising Harold's food to the heavens, making the old man blush in embarrassment. 

"If you live with me, you can have meals like this every day," Althea said with a smile, and Winona's spoon paused midway as she whipped her head to look at her.

Some tears lined up the blonde's eyes, making the other two flinch. Bitterly, she threw back a rhetorical question. "You think I don't want to??" 

"..."

Althea sheepishly rubbed her nose, knowing this was a prelude to a rant. Absent-mindedly, Althea took a bite at the last viand, not noticing Harold's nervous stare.

"I would've run to you when things happened! It was just that—" Winona paused, looking at Althea who was gaping as she ate a dish.

She waved her hand in front of the auburn-haired woman. "Hey, Althea. What's wrong?"

Althea ignored her and continued to chew, taking another bite to confirm there really was a difference to the other dishes.