forever.

But then I thought about Emma and Lucy.

Pride wasn’t going to pay for daycare.

“I want everything in writing.”

Mr. Bennett nodded.

“My record says clearly that I did not steal anything.”

“Yes.”

“And I’m paid for the shifts I lost.”

“Yes.”

“Then I’ll come back.”

Marcus grinned.

“Good.”

I looked at him.

“Why?”

“Because nobody else knows how to organize that supply closet, and the night crew has completely destroyed it.”

I laughed.

A real laugh.

The first one in two days.

That evening, I picked up Emma and Lucy from daycare.

Lucy came running toward me holding a crooked paper crown covered in gold glitter.

“I made you a queen!”

She shoved it onto my head.

Emma studied me.

“Why are you smiling, Mommy?”

I almost cried.

“Mommy had a very strange day.”

“Did you see a dinosaur?”

“No.”

“A princess?”

I thought about a tiny