Chloe was asleep in my arms, e

the kitchen,

ker of something – an

re were you two all n

ed. R

y voice like ice. "High fev

her bed, tucking her

ed me into Chl

didn't yo

d to fa

hone went to voi

er sleep. She turned her face

eep, she r

busy. Leo wasn't feeling wel

ark. Alw

hloe takes when she gets a cough?

anymore? Or that she's allergic to st

, I know my own daughter, M

w. She hadn't

her voice overly bright. "Just the two of us. A special mother-daughter

attempt. A g

Chloe's sleepy eyes when

omething abou

hope. I knew it

, the doo

d Leo. O

ning a trip!" Mark boomed, walk

a go to Disneyland too! It's

ewed up in a perfect imitation of

d. Ent

"Well, Mark, it was suppos

dled. "Leo would be heartbroke

e doorframe, a bitt

rcasm. "The more the merrier. Leo sh

of annoyance and relief. She w

Document Incident," as I ca

Councilwoman. Ima

sitive zoning proposal.

mist

ed after" by Jessica while Mark was

spilled all over

smeared it further an

ime to see the mess, imm

She was jealous Leo was p

ica had bought

ook at Chloe. Didn't

woman sharp. "How could you? This is extremely importa

them. In f

s white. Tears w

I did

!" Jessica

apology, her voice

, a slow burn, turned

ust neglect. T

at Chloe's school was anno

ited. A small spark in

a dress?" she asked Jessica,

make a whole day of it!"

ica spent it at a

her city council connections

by her window, her s

ched with every twirl she made in fro

ng up the pieces Jessic