Renee finally stopped giggling but her face was all flush and her eyes wet with tears, she managed a "mm hmm" in acknowledgement while wiping her face.
Emma however became very serious.
Matching Temmit's conspiratorial tone she asked him, "wait wait wait, you didn't actually tell a joke and I missed it?" Emma, not the typical one to tease, was looking at Temmit with such facetiousness that Renee broke back out in laughter.
She laughed so hard that she started to plead for help "Oh no, hurts, can't catch my breathe...."
Emma and Temmit gave her another few moments to collect herself which she did at great difficulty. Neither of them had ever seen the girl so relaxed and happy at a meeting before. This truly was a grand night.
While Emma rubbed her back and tried not to smile or tease Temmit, lest she start the whole thing over again, Temmit looked behind them. Some kids were starting to filter out of the room and no one approached, he caught Harrison looking at them, but then he turned away to Leslie who had Clive standing on her shoulder.