I pulled out my phone with shaking fingers and opened my texts.
Me:Where did you two head off to?
The typing bubbles didn’t appear immediately, and that made it worse. I kept walking, down to the bakery, across the corner where the stone fountain trickled lazily. I looked for footprints, laughter, anything at all.
Finally, a ping.
Celeste:Everything’s fine! We just wanted to walk a bit. He brought me coffee and everything.
My breath hitched. I paused near a lamppost and reread it three times.
Ping again.
A photo this time.
The two of them, faces pressed close together, grinning at the camera. Celeste’s cheeks were flushed. Darren’s arm was around her shoulders. She looked… safe. Happy. Whole.
Nothing was wrong in the picture.
Nothing at all.
Another message followed.
Celeste:He said we can leave for the lake house early if that’s okay with you? His parents have already given the go-ahead, and he has all my stuff. I figured we’d beat traffic.
I stared at the screen.
I zoomed in on Darren’s face.
It was the same smile. Open, charming, relaxed. But now, in this quiet moment without the adrenaline in my ears, I couldn’t see the look I thought I’d seen in the restaurant window.
Had I imagined it?
I stared at the image, trying to summon the unease I felt.
It didn’t come.
Just my daughter smiling in a selfie.
I typed back slowly.
Me:Of course, honey. Just text me when you get there. Please.
Her response was immediate.
Celeste:You got it! Love you
I stared at a heart emoji and exhaled slowly, finally letting my shoulders fall.
Maybe I was just… being what I swore I wouldn’t become.
An overprotective mom with too much magic on the brain.
The door to the bakery down the street jingled, and I turned just in time to see Keegan step out, a muffin in one hand, his other already unwrapping the paper.
He took two steps before spotting me.
His brow furrowed. “Maeve?”
