My chest tightens so fast it almost hurts, but I notice when Juliette stiffens at the same time. It’s a fraction of movement, but it feels like a small tidal wave of change.
I keep my voice steady. “Well, he’s right.”
Theo nods, satisfied, and the silence stretches for a beat. Not awkward. Just full.
Juliette watches me like she’s trying to read something I’m not saying out loud.
“So,” Theo says suddenly. “Do you have kids?”
There it is. I swallow. Oof, I need to choose my words carefully.
“No,” I say. “But I had a really good dad.”
Theo tilts his head. “Where is he?”
“Theo. We don’t do that…” Juliette begins, but I beat her to it.
“It’s fine.” I bend down so I’m at Theo’s height. “He died a couple years ago.”
Theo’s face softens immediately. No fear. No pity. Just simple, kid-level empathy.
“Oh,” he says. “That sucks.”
“Yeah,” I agree as Juliette winces. “It really does.”
He nods like that explains everything. “My mom says when you miss someone, like really miss them, you can still carry them with you.” He reaches out and pats my heart. “You carry them here.”
I glance at Juliette. Her jaw is tight, eyes glossy but controlled.
“That’s a good way to put it,” I tell him.
He brightens. “You wanna see my hockey cards?”
I laugh, quietly this time. “I’d love to. But maybe another day. When I’m at the shop?”
I look at Juliette again and ask silent permission with my eyes this time.
She hesitates, glancing at her watch, then nods. “Another day,” she says, and Theo grins like Christmas came early.
I step back, deliberately creating space. “Funny running into you here.”
“Alexandria is a lot smaller than you think,” Juliette responds.
“I’m beginning to understand that.”
Juliette’s mouth opens as if she’s going to say something, but Theo interrupts, pointing to a box of sugar-coated crunchy bits for breakfast. “Can I have…”
“No, buddy,” she says with a quick shake of her head. “We’re here on a mission, remember?”
He sighs. “Can we get a unicorn donut on the way out?”
Juliette looks to the ceiling as she shakes her head again. “No.”
“Chocolate glazed?”
“No.”
“Fine.” Theo grabs her hand and tugs her toward the next aisle. “We’ll just get flour, then. Come on.”
