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Available balance: $12.18

What the fuck?

I opened the transaction history and immediately saw the problem.

A scheduled payment had come out that morning… one I had completely forgotten about.

I closed my eyes.

Of course… of fucking course.

“Mommy, are you okay?”

I opened my eyes and found Kaidence studying me.

“Yeah, baby.”

I pulled out my credit card and handed it to the cashier. “Can you put it on this one, please?”

“Sure.”

I tapped the card and held my breath until the machine beeped again.

APPROVED.

The relief hit me so hard I almost cried right there in the checkout line.

“Thank you.”

The cashier handed me the receipt. “Have a good day.”

“You too.”

I grabbed the bags and headed toward the exit with Kaidence walking quietly beside me.

I hated that because I knew he had noticed something was wrong.

Once we reached the truck, he looked up at me. “Mommy, did you not have enough money?”

My heart sank.

I stopped beside the truck and crouched in front of him. “Baby, don’t worry about that.”

“But—”

“Kaidence, listen to me.”

His eyes met mine.

“Mommy has everything under control, okay? You don’t have to worry about money. That’s grown-up stuff.”

He nodded. “Okay.”

I kissed his forehead. “Now come on. Help me put these groceries in the car.”

His mood changed almost instantly, and by the time we finished loading everything, he was back to talking about Halloween costumes like nothing had happened.

Meanwhile, I felt like I was falling apart.