Chapter 82

The ride over felt longer than it really was. Maybe it was because my stomach wouldn’t settle. I sat in the passenger seat, staring out at the streets as they passed by. Benjamin’s hand rested lightly on the wheel, and every now and then, he’d glance at me without saying anything. He didn’t need to. I already knew what his eyes were asking—Are you okay?

I nodded once, though my hands were still tight in my lap. Daisy sat in the back, her backpack with little keychains jingling against the seat every time the car went over a bump. She hummed to herself, legs swinging, as if today was just another adventure.

“Mom,” she called suddenly, leaning forward so her curls peeked between the seats. “Do you think they’ll have snacks there?”

I blinked, caught off guard. “At the shop?”

She nodded, grinning.

I laughed softly, shaking my head. “Sweetheart, it’s not a party. It’s a store.”

“Stores have snacks sometimes,” she said matter-of-factly.

Benjamin c