To his words, Mona gave him a shy smile and formed her response without speaking out loud: Okay, she told him. Thank you. The thought that came right after, the thought of I'm glad Maddy hasn't been alone here wasn't directly meant from him, but she knew he'd hear it.
Then she turned her gaze back to her sister, the smile more comfortable and open when directed at her. The fact that there was apparently another human in the circus gave Mona a little more hope that she would be allowed to stay.
"When can we go meet this man, the circus dad? Kennet?"