Noah catches my eye, and for a second, we share the same unspoken truth about how fragile this is.
“She had enough energy to make crumble,” I add, trying to keep the moment light. “That’s usually a sign.”
Noah drapes an arm around Rowan’s shoulders as she hops off the counter. “She’s doing well,” he says again, firmer this time. “Let’s not waste the day.”
I nod, feeling the knot in my chest loosen.
Mom shuffles into the kitchen with a list of orders for us to grab plates and set the table.
When dinner is finished and we can hardly move from eating so much, we gather in the living room while Mom plates dessert. She hands each of us a bowlwith a kiss, just as she did when we were kids.
Dad has his arm around her, and the TV is playing an old movie in the background.
Rowan starts eating off Noah’s plate when he isn’t looking.
Piper rolls her eyes, muttering, “You’re both children.”
I settle onto the edge of the couch with my legs tucked beneath me. I look over at my mom and catch her looking back at me.
She smiles.
So I do too.
One good day.
We’ll take it.
Twenty-One
I walk into Grant’s office with a folder tucked under my arm and a headache already blooming behind my eyes.
He’s mid-sentence, charming someone on speakerphone, when I let the folder drop onto the desk in front of him.
The call goes quiet.
Grant looks at the folder before his gaze drags slowly back to me.
“Well,” he says, reaching for the mute button. “Good afternoon to you, too, Madi.”
“End the call,” I tell him.
He arches a brow, but I don’t back down. Grant knows me well enough not to test me when I’m this pissed off.
He quickly apologizes to the caller before ending the call.
Leaning in, I press my palms flat against his desk. “He’s having an affair.”
Grant leans back so fast his chair creaks. “What?”
“Your senator,” I say. “The man you vouched for. The man I stood beside on the news a month ago, while he talked about family values and integrity like he didn’t have someone else’s lipstick on his conscience.”
Grant scrubs a hand over his face. “That’s not possible.”
“Open the folder.”
He hesitates.
“I don’t have the fucking time or patience today, Grant. Open the folder.”
