After I left Alpha father and son went crazy with regret

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

he recalled asking his mom, Nora, to

thought made

even react when I told her Id visit Linda, Alex murmured

mean she’s okay with

appeased. Alex’s mood

jaunty tune, he hurried to school, his steps light

retreating figure with a small,

turned the corner and disappeared, she let out a soft

circled in red “Work

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

her

of activity buzzed around her, but

The as if

unusually subdued, at id anticipation

glanced at Megan, who sat at her deck with

the long face, Megan? Nora asked, setting

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

Chapter 38

to roll her

and while most of their colleagues humored her,

a good reason, Nora said briskly, logging

suspected why Arnold hadn’t

Nora felt a dull ache building in her

her chair back and stretched before heading to the pantry

freshly brewed coffee filled the air, soothing her frayed nerves.