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.”

send before she

phone into his pocket, he recalled asking

thought made

react when I told her Id visit Linda, Alex murmured to himself.

she’s okay

his concerns momentarily appeased. Alex’s

a jaunty tune, he hurried to school, his steps light with

stood by the window, watching Alex’s retreating

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

furrowed. Today was circled in red

it,” she muttered to herself, her voice tinged with relief and apprehension “After today. I can finally focus entirely on my

deep breath, Nora collected her things and headed out

the office, the usual hum of activity buzzed around her, but something

The as if

subdued, at id anticipation had been deflated.

sat at her deck with a pouty

face, Megan? Nora asked,

Megan replied with a dramatic sigh. “I was really looking forward to seeing him today. You know, his presence just

Chapter 38

the urge to roll her

known, and while most of their colleagues humored her, Nora

a good reason, Nora said briskly,

though, she suspected why Arnold hadn’t shown up. “Linda must

time the afternoon rolled around, Nora felt a dull ache building in her temples.

chair back and stretched before heading to the

freshly brewed coffee filled

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