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Kiera smiled. “Cool adults are a good start.”

“Sure,” Izzy said. “But I need someone who knows how to turn all this potential into something sustainable. You know education — how kids learn, how to meet them where they are. You know how to scaffold things, and evaluate progress, and—” She broke off, realizing she was rambling. “Basically, I trust you to help make this more than a pretty idea.”

Kiera was quiet for a beat, processing. “You already have the heart of it, Izzy. You know what these kids need. I just speak fluent ‘lesson plan.’”

“Exactly.” Izzy looked at her fully now. “That’s why I’m asking. I don’t want a consultant. I wantyou. I want your opinion. Your ideas. Your voice on this.”

Another pause — longer this time — then Kiera nodded, that small, thoughtful frown she always made when she was weighing something she cared about.

“Okay,” she said softly. “I’d love to help you in any way I can.”

And Izzy smiled, because it felt like more than just a yes. She wanted to say something — something teasing, something flirty and suggestive — but then her phone buzzed in her pocket. Maggie’s name lit up her screen with a call coming through.

“Should we tell her we’re on a date?” Kiera said, grinning mischievously.

“Only if you’re ready for the meddling,” Izzy said.

“Pete and Danica are already bad enough. What’s one more?” Kiera quipped.

Izzy grinned, swiping to answer. “Well, hello there.” She held the phone up to Kiera in case she wanted to chime in, then continued. “Maggie, you have excellent timing. We have to tell you something scandalous.”

But instead of the playful retort she expected, there was nothing. Just a shaky inhale, a wobbling, gasping breath.

Izzy’s stomach turned cold. “Mags?”

Then Maggie sobbed. A sound so raw, so devastating, that it made Izzy’s knees feel weak.

Kiera’s smile vanished in an instant. “Maggie?” she asked softly, stepping closer.

Izzy’s heart was already racing. “Maggie, what’s wrong? What happened?”

Another breath, another choked, unsteady exhale.

“My mom,” Maggie finally whispered, her words sounding strangled. “My mom… a heart attack.”

Izzy’s throat tightened, and she didn’t know how, but sheknew. The words weren’t there yet, but they didn’t have to be. “What do you mean? Is she in the hospital?”

“She came over for dinner, and then I walked back in from the kitchen, and she was gone. Just like that. The paramedics just left like an hour ago, and I… I don’t know what to do.”

“Oh, Maggie,” Izzy breathed.

Maggie let out another broken sound.

Kiera’s hand lay gently on her shoulder, grounding her. Izzy squeezed her eyes shut, inhaled through her nose, then forced the words out. “Is Gwen there? Do you want me to come?”

Maggie didn’t answer — just cried, and Izzy couldhearthe devastation in it, the bottomless grief, the way her whole world had just turned upside down. It reminded her of when Maggie had called after her pregnancy termination. How Izzy had helped just by being there to do whatever Maggie and Gwen needed, taking care of the kids, helping her two friends through one of the worst traumas of their lives.

Kiera had her phone out, texting someone. She turned her phone toward Izzy and showed her Gwen’s response. She was in Lisbon and trying to get a flight, but even hopping a flight immediately, she couldn’t make it back until tomorrow afternoon. Kiera met Izzy’s gaze and nodded, encouraging.

“Okay, Mags, I’ll be there soon,” Izzy said, as steady as she could.

“Okay,” Maggie said, her voice small.

Izzy swallowed past the lump in her throat, forcing herself into action. She immediately opened the airline app, her hands shaking so badly she could barely type.

“God, poor Maggie. Are you seriously going to fly out there tonight?” Kiera asked, her voice gentle.

“I have to.” Izzy was already moving, already turning back toward the parking lot.