dr

my gaze lingered on her back

ut today, she was unusually calm. She didn't

stirred an unfamiliar

d softly beside me, gen

innocent, but there was a flicker of wo

ked, her voice soft. "Adeline won't. she won't think there's som

I could see the faint shimmer

to respond, but

pouting. "She's always angry, mean, an

out and gently patted Elizabet

like you mor

r expression faltered slightly

tone. "What have I told you about saying

inished with a bright, toothy grin.

nd pinched her cheek. "What a cl

en pointed towar

eth. Zora wants ic

laugh before glancing at

answer im

again, lingering for a moment longer

said, lead

aying attention to A

one of her attempts to get my attenti

o need to i

uld be over by the time I got home.

othing to w

☆

the day pass

turned home, we were both

a looked around the l

Mommy?" s

't sitting on the couch where she usually waited. The fami

own formed

!" I cal

espo

!" I cal

turned-only for the part-t

Carter," she said

deepened

Adeline?"

d, then gestured toward the table. "Dinner has

the covered dishe

e had never missed a single day o

d

n't eve

her tantrums

ra asked, yawning softly. "Is

nd dismissed Lucia before adjusting

said as we made our way to her

tly on the bed a

ommy's porridge tom

'm sure she'll prepare it befor

enly sat up, pressin

fore placing another kiss on my ch

nder the covers, h

night,

of the room. When I returned to my bedroom, I

out the room

dwell on it,

ome unacknowledged part of me

o call me

t her. It wa

ntment stirred in my ches

," I

me through softly. "Did you

loosened my tie and shrugged off my suit, tossing it

gently. "I'm home safe as w

ef pause before

Ade

er name. "She's just being childish. I'

t a quiet sigh. "I still have some documents to go t

ght, Eli

all e

nto the bed and hea

sn't going to interfere with my rest. By to

s no reason

wered, changed into my p

☆

familiar sound of Adeline moving arou

heard it. Adeline always woke

y was di

pty space beside me

woken up wit

red for the day, a th

she come bac

I tried to recall,

was used to her helping me k

ma of food drifted through the a

cou

prepare breakfast as a way to ma

pi

the stairs, I called

certain she was there, I walked over

ed, and a plate of pancakes and ba

ng my head, only for the

eline, but i

my face. "Where's

isn't here,"

ened. "She's

me off guard. "Mrs. Carter ha

ze sl

ha

yesterday? Was she really tak

ad

stairs. I looked up to se

day. Why aren't you d

g her eyes sleepily. Then she looked aro

said. "Did Mommy

uld answer,

he's not back yet. But I can

mmediately and

did Mommy go

dn't

kly. did I car

o

a cup of coffee, and make a

s,

e Zora walked over and

, then scoffed, crossing her arms

. "Daddy, hurry up

r words had n

the door, as if expec

of coffee in front of me and a bowl of porrid

ld want some, so I prepare

ef nod and w

ffee and took a sip. The next second,

!" I c

ed over i

coffee, not

"Mrs. Carter is usually the one who

d finish, Zora'

s is dis

ack into the bowl and p

ge," she demanded. "I

y at a loss, and opened her mo

nd take t

d rushed back to the

was gone, Zor

s just another way of being a

her eyes bright

Mommy doesn't want to come home and cook for u

rd and tugged ea

ld have refused. But if Adeline w

ly fair I taug

gh

e, found Elizabeth's

nected on th

sitation, "how would you