Chapter 60

Benjamin and I hadn’t spoken since the fight. The silence between us was heavier than any words. Even during dinner, it felt like we were two strangers sitting across from each other, just moving food around our plates. Daisy tried to brighten the table with her little giggles and stories, but even she could sense something was wrong. She kept looking between us, waiting for one of us to break the tension, but neither of us did.

After dinner, I took Daisy upstairs. I placed her into bed, smoothing her blanket over her small body, and kissed her forehead. She whispered, “Goodnight, Mommy,” before rolling over with her iPad still clutched in her hands.

I stood there for a moment, staring at her little face in the dim light. Guilt pricked at me, she was not supposed to see the tension between Benjamin and me. Even though she is still a child, I’m sure she understood the silence.

Later, after my bath, I pulled on my nightdress and sat on the edge of my bed. I was tired