Page 15

“Yes, I am!” He raises his voice. “It’s … it’s because my mom and dad are dead.”

My throat tightens as I try to swallow back my own emotions.

“Oh, Leo,” I murmur, reaching out to pull him into a hug. He melts against me like he always does when he needs comfort.

“I hate school,” he mumbles into my shoulder.

“I know you do,” I whisper back, holding him tighter. “But you’re so brave for going every day.” I pull back so I can see his face. “You don’t have to let them get to you. They don’t know how strong you are.”

I cradle Leo against me, feeling the familiar weight of his little body relax in my arms. His warmth is a balm to my own fraying nerves. As I run my fingers through his hair, I wonder how to shield him from the cruelty of the world. How can I protect him when I’m still trying to piece together my own life?

“Let’s do something fun tonight,” I suggest, hoping to coax a smile from him. “How about we bake cookies before we head over to Lydia’s? We can make a giant batch and bring them for everyone.”

He lifts his head, curiosity flickering in those bright blue eyes. “Can we make chocolate chip?”

“Of course. Your favorite.” The thought of baking fills me with a sense of normalcy, a chance to create some joy amid our chaos.

Leo nods, his mood already brightening. “But can we put sprinkles on them too?”

“Sprinkles it is.” I flash him a smile, and he mirrors it back, the heaviness lifting.

I stand and ruffle his hair playfully before heading toward the door. Before leaving, I glance over my shoulder. “Do you want to help?”

“Yeah!” His voice is suddenly animated as he rushes out after me.

As I pull out the mixing bowl and gather the ingredients, I’m grateful for this moment—just us, surrounded by laughter and flour.

We work side by side—flour dusts the counter as we measure and mix. I feel lighter with each scoop of chocolate chips that goes into our bowl. As we stir together, Leo’s laughter fills the room—an antidote to my worries.

I pullinto Lydia’s driveway, the familiar sight of her quaint little house instantly filling me with a sense of welcome. The front porch glows with string lights, casting a soft glow that beckons us inside. Leo bounces in his seat, barely able to contain his excitement about the cookies we made.

“Aunt Evie! Can we go?” His impatience tugs at my heartstrings.

“Okay, okay. Let’s get out.” I chuckle, unbuckling my seatbelt.

Leo leaps from the car, nearly tripping over himself as he rushes toward the front door. I follow behind, adjusting the cookie tray carefully in my hands.

Lydia greets us at the door with her signature smile, all bright and cheerful. “You made it. And look at you two.” Her eyes land on Leo, who beams up at her like she’s his personal sunshine.

“Guess what? We baked cookies.” Leo is practically vibrating with enthusiasm.

“Cookies?” Lydia kneels down to meet him eye-to-eye. “I can’t wait to try them. Did you help?”

“Uh-huh.” He nods vigorously. “I put in the chocolate chips and sprinkles.”

“Sounds like you’re already a master chef,” she teases before ruffling his hair affectionately.

As we step into their cozy living room filled with toys scattered about and faint sounds of giggling from Lydia’s threedaughters, Leo breaks away from me, darting off to join them. It’s comforting to see him play so freely, laughing as they begin an impromptu game of tag. The sound echoes through the house—pure joy that reminds me of simpler times.

I set the tray of cookies on the kitchen counter and watch for a moment as Leo bounds around with reckless abandon, completely lost in childhood bliss. The sight warms my heart. It’s these moments that make everything worth it.

“Do you want a drink?” Lydia calls from behind me as she pours herself some iced tea.

“Sure,” I reply, still caught up in watching Leo chase after Harper while Nora and Elise giggle beside her.

“It’s good seeing him so happy,” Lydia says softly after a beat.

I turn back to her, forcing a smile despite my swirling thoughts about Zeke and our unexpected encounter earlier. “Yeah,” I say, trying to focus on the here and now.