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“Sorry I’m late,” Noor said. “Bus did a bus thing.”
“I told you, we don’t dock pay for public transport,” Mira said. “You’re here. That’s enough. Noor, this is Emilia. Emilia, Noor. She helps on Sundays when she’s not dying under uni deadlines.”
“Hi,” Noor said. She was shorter than Emilia had imagined, dark curls pushed under a beanie, eyes quick. “I’ve seen you around. You did the feedback forms last time, right?”
“Yes,” Emilia said. “And spilled tea on my own shoe.”
“That happens to the best of us,” Noor said. “Do you want me on dishes or people today?”
“Start with people,” Mira said. “We’ll swap you to dishes when Jamal starts unplugging things he shouldn’t.”
“Rude,” Jamal said from across the room.
“True,” Mira said.
“What do you want me to do?” Emilia asked Mira.
“Games table,” Mira said. “Make sure people have something to do with their hands. Some of them struggle with small talk.”
“That I can do,” Emilia said.
She watched Noor slide immediately into conversation with a pair of shy teens, pulling a card game from a box and explaining rules in an easy, warm voice. Noor’s eyes flicked around the room regularly, checking for anyone standing alone.
Mira noticed Emilia noticing and said, quietly, “She’s good at that. Seeing edges. It’s one of the reasons I wanted her here today.”
“I can see that,” Emilia said. “She’s… kind.”
“Yes,” Mira said. “And she’s been here long enough that Amaya may assume familiarity. Which is another reason I want clear lines. But that’s not a conversation for this hour.” The name dropped like a small stone between them and then settled.