James got there four seconds later.
He came round the buggy with his hand already halfway out and his mouth already open — and he saw the two of them, Alice square across the walkway with the bags up like a screen, Nyra behind her breathing out through her mouth, and he understood the entire shape of it before anybody said anything.
He also saw Nyra's face, which was pink to the ears and braced for exactly one thing.
So he did not do that thing.
"Rabbits," he said. "Any good?"
Nyra swallowed.
"...There's a grey one."
"Right." He put his hands in his hoodie pocket. "We're not getting a rabbit."
"I didn't *ask*—"
"Just heading it off."
She laughed, wetly, once, and wiped her face with the back of her wrist and pretended she was fixing her fringe.
James lifted his chin at Alice.
"Thanks."
Alice lowered the bags.
