“I saw it, Hannah.”
“You saw a photo.”
“I saw enough.”
She leans against the counter, studying me. “Did you ask him?”
“No.”
“Then you don’t know.”
“I know what it looked like.”
“That doesn’t mean itiswhat it looked like.”
I let out a breath, rubbing my temples. “I just… I can’t go into this blind.”
“Then don’t,” she says gently. “Ask him.”
I don’t reply. Because I don’t know if I’m ready to hear the answer.
By the time the final bell rings, my nerves are shot. I step out onto the playground, scanning automatically for Theo, and I spot him almost instantly. Relief washes through me. He runs over, wrapping his arms around me.
“Mum!”
“Hey, baby.”
I hold onto him for a second longer than usual, grounding myself in something certain. Something safe. Then I look up and spot Rory standing across the playground, looking straight at me. For a second everything else fades. Because he looks… normal. Relaxed. Happy to see me. Like nothing has changed. And that… That hurts more than I expect it to. Because everything has changed for me.
Theo tugs my hand. “Can we walk with Rory and Isla?”
My stomach drops. “Um…”
But it’s too late. He’s already pulling me forward. Rory meets us halfway.
“Hey,” he says, his voice warm.
“Hi.”
My own voice sounds different.
His brow furrows slightly. “You okay?”
“Yeah. Just tired.”
He studies me for a second like he knows. Like he can feel the shift in me.
Theo and Isla immediately run ahead, talking loudly about something I don’t catch.
Rory steps closer. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing.”
“Freya…”
“I said nothing.”
The words come out sharper than I intend which makes him stop in his tracks. I keep going for half a second before he wraps his hands gently around my waist.
