The next morning, Luna still had faint red marks across her arms. I dabbed them gently with ointment as she sat quietly on the sofa, her legs swinging. Will hadn’t said a word to me since the amusement park. After storming out with Charlotte and Evelyn, he returned home late. I didn’t ask where he’d been. I didn’t care.
The phone rang.
I grabbed it, hoping it was something that could distract me. “Hello?”
“It’s Susan,” said the voice on the other end. “I want to see Luna today. Bring her to the house.”
I hesitated. Will’s mother wasn’t exactly warm toward me, but she adored Luna.
“Alright,” I said. “We’ll come by after lunch.”
Susan hung up without another word.
I packed Luna’s favorite books and her bunny in a small bag.
She held my hand tightly as we walked out.
“Are we going to Grandma Susan’s?” she asked.
“Yes, sweetheart.”
She grinned widely. “She always gives me chocolate.”
I smile

“Go to your room, Luna,” I said as we stepped inside. “Wash your hands first.”
She nodded silently, her sleeves covering the bandages I’d just wrapped. Her little figure disappeared up the stairs. I shut the door behind us, locking it.
I turned toward the kitchen, craving a glass of water. But then I heard voices—low at first, then clearer as I approached.
“I think it’s time I move out,” Charlotte was saying.
I stopped mid-step.
“What are you talking about?” Will’s voice sounded tense.
“I’ve been thinking about it. I don’t want to overstay my welcome. I’ll find a place nearby. I don’t want to be a burden.”
“You’re not a burden,” he said quickly. “Charlotte, please. Just stay here until you settle.”
“I already looked at some listings.”
“Don’t go rushing into anything.” His tone softened. “You don’t have to do this alone.”
“I don’t want to cause trouble.”
“What? Why? Is this because of wha


“Where’s Luna?”
She shrugged. “Maybe she wandered off.”
“What?”
“You know how kids are,” she said lightly. “They see something shiny and go chasing it.”
Will wasn’t there. I looked left and right.
No sign of any of them.
“Will?” I called.
No answer.
My heart started to pound.
“She was with Will.”
“Oh,” Charlotte said, still smiling. “Evelyn ran off. I think Will chased her.”
My throat felt dry. “And he left Luna?”
“I guess so,” she said.
I dropped the cone without realizing.
I started running.
Calling Luna’s name.
“Luna!”
“Luna, where are you?!”
“He always thinks of you two first.”
“You’re lucky. He worries about Luna, too.”
Every word.
Every little dig.
Every hidden meaning.
I heard it clearly.
“Luna!”
No response.
I scanned every ride, every bench, every shadow. Panic choked me.
Finally, near the edge of the park by the food court, I spotted her. Sitting on the ground, arms around her knees, sobbing. Her hands were scraped, one knee bleeding.
“Luna!” I dropped to my knees. “What happened?!”
She looked up, eyes red. “I fell. I called for you. No one came.”
I hugged her tightly.
Behind me, Will strolled over, holding Evelyn’s hand. “What happened?” he asked with a frown on his face.
I stood slowly. “She’s hurt, and you left her.”
“I had to chase Evely;, she ran off,” he said flatly. “She ran into the crowd.”
“You left Luna alone?” I snapped. 
My face hardened as I stared at my own husband.
“It wasn’t that far. I was just—”
I cut him off before he could explain himself. “She got hurt.”
“I didn’t know she wandered off!”
“You had one job!”
“She was just here! Evelyn got scared in the funhouse and ran. I couldn’t find both—”
“She’s our daughter! You chased her,” I pointed at Evelyn.
Will’s frown deepens. “Is not like I meant to.”
“Luna’s eight, Will,” I said in a disbelief tone.
He looked at Luna. Then at me.
“Fine, I’ll go find the park nurse.” The way he said it, it’s like he is obliged to do it, not because he wanted to, but because he wanted to avoid trouble and unnecessary drama.
Evelyn suddenly began to cry.
She sniffled and pulled on Will’s sleeve. “I’m sorry. It’s all my fault. Uncle Will, I’m sorry.”
Will turned immediately. “No, baby, it’s okay. You didn’t do anything wrong.”
Charlotte arrived moments later. “Oh no, what happened?! Is Luna okay? Evelyn didn’t mean to cause trouble—she’s just a child!”
Will turned to me. “You’re making a scene.”
“A scene?” I spat. “Our daughter was hurt and crying alone!”
Charlotte continues. “I’m so sorry. Evelyn must have gotten overwhelmed. These places can be too much.”
“She’s fine,” Will said, giving me a hard look. “This was just a misunderstanding.”
“Misunderstanding? My daughter is hurt!” I shot back.
“You’re blowing this out of proportion. Evelyn didn’t mean anything. Apologize.”
I stared at him, stunned. “What?”
“For yelling in public. You’re being petty.”
He waited.
Then turned away like it was nothing. “Let’s continue the day everything has been settled.”
I held Luna’s hand. “Let’s go.”
He heard me as he turned towards me. “Where are you going?” he asked.
“Home. I’m taking Luna home.”
Will didn’t stop me as he only stared at me.
Neither did Charlotte.
That said, everything.
Luna clung to me. I wrapped my arm around her and walked off.
We got in the car. She was still sniffling. 
Back home, I cleaned Luna’s hands.
She winced as I wiped the wound gently.
“I’m sorry, baby,” I said again.
She shook her head. “It’s not your fault.”
“You know that I love you, right, sweetie? And I will never leave you again.” I said as I tucked her bangs behind her ear.
“And I love you too, mommy.”
I wrapped her knees in soft gauze.
Then kissed her cheeks.
“Next time,” I whispered, “we’ll go just the two of us. Somewhere better. I promise.”
Luna smiled, but it was small and tired.
“Just you and me?” she asked.
“Just us.”
Later that evening, I made Luna’s favorite soup.
She ate quietly.
I was wiping down the table when I heard the front door open.
Will walked in.
Charlotte and Evelyn followed.
Laughter.
Shoes on the hardwood floor.
Luna froze.
I looked away.
Will entered the kitchen and leaned against the counter, followed by Charlotte and Evelyn beside him.
He dropped his keys. “Still not speaking to me?”
I stayed silent.
His tone hardened. “So you’re still upset about earlier? Seriously?”
Charlotte stepped forward. “Anna, I just wanted to say I’m sorry too. I know it looked bad.”
I looked past her, at the clock.
“She really didn’t mean any harm,” she added, in a sugar-sweet voice. 
Still, I said nothing.
“Oh, sweetheart,” she said. “How are you feeling?”
Luna looked down at her bowl.
“She’s fine,” I replied.
Charlotte walked closer. “Let me see your hands.”
“She’s fine,” I repeated, louder.
Charlotte paused. “Of course. I was just—”
“You were just enjoying the rest of your day while she cried on a bench.”
Will stepped in again. “Okay, enough.”
I looked at him. “You can defend her. But not your own daughter?”
“She said sorry.”
“I didn’t ask for her apology.”
He stared at me. “You’ve changed.”
“No,” I said. “I’ve just stopped staying quiet.”
He clenched his jaw. “You’re making this harder than it needs to be.”
“I’m not the one who left a child behind.”
Will’s jaw tensed. “Unbelievable. You’re going to keep this attitude?”
Charlotte said gently. “Let’s just give her space, Will.”
He glared at me. “She’s being petty. That’s what this is.”
He walked off without another word.
Charlotte followed him.
Evelyn stayed in the hallway, looking at Luna.
Luna looked at me. “Can I sleep in your bed tonight?”
“Of course,” I said.
I took her bowl.
She took my hand.
And for the rest of the night, I didn’t hear another sound from Will’s room.

The next morning, Luna still had faint red marks across her arms. I dabbed them gently with ointment as she sat quietly on the sofa, her legs swinging. Will hadn’t said a word to me since the amusement park. After storming out with Charlotte and Evelyn, he returned home late. I didn’t ask where he’d been. I didn’t care.
The phone rang.
I grabbed it, hoping it was something that could distract me. “Hello?”
“It’s Susan,” said the voice on the other end. “I want to see Luna today. Bring her to the house.”
I hesitated. Will’s mother wasn’t exactly warm toward me, but she adored Luna.
“Alright,” I said. “We’ll come by after lunch.”
Susan hung up without another word.
I packed Luna’s favorite books and her bunny in a small bag.
She held my hand tightly as we walked out.
“Are we going to Grandma Susan’s?” she asked.
“Yes, sweetheart.”
She grinned widely. “She always gives me chocolate.”
I smiled. “I’m sure she will today too.”
I dressed Luna in a pale yellow dress and tied her ha

Chapter 5