Chapter 38

sking up. “I just wanted to say hi.“

Aunt Linda,” Alex replied without looking up.

Nora’s chest tightened, but she said nothing. She didn’t stop him.

The car ride continued in silence, save for the fam tapping of Mex’s hugers on his phone,

Nora kept her eyes on the road, though her mind was elsewhere.

She told herself it didn’t matter, that Linda’s presence in Alex’s life didn’t diminish her role as his mother.

But the lingering ache told a different story.

The message from Linda arrived just as Alex was putting his books into his backpack

He glanced at his phone, his heart pounding in worry.

**Just a minor illness, AlexTM Linda’s text read. “No need to worry. Rest up, focus on school, and I’ll be fine.“”

Alex frowned, chewing his bottom lip.

He knew Linda hated being fussed over, but her vague assurances didn’t sit well with him.

His fingers flew over his phone screEIL

**Til come by right after school, Aunt Linda. Don’t try to talk me out of it.”

before she

recalled asking his mom, Nora, to

made

her Id visit Linda, Alex murmured

that mean she’s okay with it?

concerns momentarily appeased. Alex’s mood lifted.

to school, his steps light with

Alex’s retreating figure with a small, distracted

the corner and disappeared, she let out a soft sigh and turned to the calendar hanging

circled in red

with relief and

collected her things and headed out the

office, the usual hum of activity

The as if

subdued, at id

deck with a pouty expression,

face, Megan? Nora

sigh. “I was really looking forward to seeing

Chapter 38

to

while most of their colleagues humored

he had a good reason, Nora said briskly, logging into

hadn’t shown up. “Linda

afternoon rolled around, Nora felt a dull ache building

chair back and stretched before heading to the pantry for

familiar aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the

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