"What?" she mumbled.
Jess was lying on her bed, attempting to read a book.
"Are you ok?"
"I'm fine."
Austin sat down next to her.
"It's just that you haven't been yourself lately."
Jess just shrugged.
"You sure you're ok? You aren't feeling sick are you?"
"No."
"Then what's wrong?"
"Nothing!"
**********
"Yeah, Austin's talking to her now." Avie was saying on the phone. "But frankly Mom, we've been trying to get through to her for ages. She just won't tell anyone what's bothering her."
Austin walked in then, shaking his head.
"Yeah, ok. Talk to you later... I love you too, bye."
Avie hung up.
"Nothing?"
"Nothing."
Austin sat there with a worried look on his face, and just stared into space.
"Why won't she tell me anything Avie?"
"I don't know. And believe me, I'm stooping pretty low now. I tried prying info from Marie."
Austin cracked a smile.
"What she say?"
"Just that 'mommys sad'."
There was silence.
"You, you don't suppose this is like what happened with Zac and, what's-her-name, his wife that died?"
"Cassie?" Avie gave him a look. "No... I'm sure she would have told Mom at least, and I was just speaking to her."
Austin sighed.
"I'm going for a walk."
Avie watched sadly as he left the house. Then she turned her face and stared at Jess's door.
"What the heck is your problem this time?"