Ben was laughing. Ava was sitting at the counter swinging her feet. Grace was smiling like the safest person in the world.
For one sick second, I just stood there watching her.
Then I walked inside and smiled so hard my cheeks hurt.
“Who wants lunch out?” I asked.
Ava looked up immediately. “Can we get fries?”
“Yes.”
Ben gasped like I had offered him a pony.
Grace frowned. “I thought I was making—”
“I know,” I said softly. “Thank you. I just need to get them out for a little while.”
I took the kids to our neighbor Nina’s house.
When she opened the door, I told her I had errands to run and might cry in public if she asked too many questions.
She hugged me and took the kids inside.
Then I went to the bank.
My name was still on the children’s account, so the manager was allowed to show me the file.
Liam had frozen it two days before he died.
No withdrawals without me present.
