[She wants to ask what's wrong, but she already did, once and if Ellie isnt ready to tell her then there's nothing she can really do about it. Except give Ellie space, and wait, and hope things are okay eventually.]
You're better with kids than I am.
[Which is true enough, even if she says it lightly.
And then she gives Ellie a quick kiss on the cheek, because for all her joking about getting a kiss, she won't press that if something's wrong.]
I love you.
[She doesn't say it all that often, because sometimes feelings are hard, but she wants to make sure Ellie knows.]
no subject
You're better with kids than I am.
[Which is true enough, even if she says it lightly.
And then she gives Ellie a quick kiss on the cheek, because for all her joking about getting a kiss, she won't press that if something's wrong.]
I love you.
[She doesn't say it all that often, because sometimes feelings are hard, but she wants to make sure Ellie knows.]