Cassidy glanced at the rearview mirror as she drove, watching Claire kick her feet softly in her car seat, humming to herself like she always did after school.
When they stopped at a red light, Cassidy spoke gently. "Sweetheart, Mommy needs to go to Geneva tomorrow. For work."
Claire looked up, curious. "Geneva?"
Cassidy nodded, keeping her tone light. "Just for a few days. There was an accident at Mommy’s company there, and I need to be there to help."
Claire was quiet for a beat. "Will I go with you?"
Cass shook her head with a soft smile. "No, baby. You’re going to stay here. Do you think you’ll be okay without Mommy for a few days?"
Claire nodded confidently. "I’m big now. I can do it."
Cassidy reached over at the next stoplight and gently brushed a hand over Claire’s hair. "I know you can. You’re so brave."
Claire bead at the praise.
Cass continued, "And you won’t be alone. Grandma Clara will be with you. And Aunty Georgia, Jonah, and Sister Freya too. You’re going to have so much fun."
At the ntion of her cousins, Claire’s eyes lit up. "Really? I can play with Sister Freya?"
"Of course," Cassidy said with a smile. "You’ll have a little sleepover. Just like last ti."
Claire clapped her hands excitedly. "Yay!"
Cassidy’s smile lingered, but beneath it was the ache of leaving her daughter behind, even for just a few days. Still, seeing Claire’s excitent helped soothe the guilt a little.
She reached for her daughter’s hand across the seat and gave it a small squeeze. "I’ll be back before you know it, okay?"
Claire nodded again. "Okay, Mommy."
***
Zeke stood across the street from BrightMinds Academy, the prestigious preschool Logan had ntioned. It was early, drop-off hour. Parents filtered in and out, holding little hands, carrying tiny backpacks, sharing rushed kisses before the day began.
For over two weeks, the thought had gnawed at him, pulling at the edges of his focus, lingering like a shadow he couldn’t shake. In the end, he ca anyway. Parked by the curb like so silent observer, feeling half like a stalker and half like a man chasing sothing he couldn’t na.
The truth was, he didn’t even know if Cassidy would be here today. Or ever. He didn’t even know if it was her that Logan saw. And the child? She could’ve been anyone. Georgia’s, maybe. A niece, a friend’s daughter. Logan had seen them together once, hardly enough to draw conclusions.
Zeke exhaled, rubbing his palms against his slacks. If I really wanted to know where she was, he thought, I could’ve had Blake find out days ago. Blake was good, too good, sotis. A single word from Zeke and he’d have Cassidy’s address, schedule, maybe even her coffee order by lunchti.
But Zeke hadn’t asked. Not because he couldn’t, but because he didn’t want to be that man. The desperate one. The one who couldn’t let go.
And yet... here he was.
He leaned back slightly against the hood of his car, eyes scanning the entrance. He told himself it didn’t matter. That if she didn’t show up, he’d drive off and never co back. That he just needed to prove sothing to himself.
But even as he tried to believe it, part of him already knew it was a lie.
Zeke waited.
He stayed across the street, leaning against his car, eyes fixed on the preschool gates. But as the minutes passed and the drop-off hour ended, there was still no sign of Cassidy. Not even a glimpse.
He ran a hand down his face, muttering under his breath, "Idiot."
Frustrated, he climbed back into his car and drove off. But the decision to leave didn’t quiet his mind. At the office, he couldn’t focus. His etings blurred together, and the spreadsheets in front of him looked like static. His thoughts kept looping back to one thing: Cassidy. The preschool. The little girl.
Eventually, he gave up pretending to work.
He grabbed his phone and dialed Logan.
Logan picked up with a grin in his voice. "What, you miss already?"
Zeke didn’t bother with pleasantries. "Tell your sister you’re picking up your nephew today."
There was a beat of silence. "What? Why?"
"I’ll give you the car," Zeke said flatly. "The one you’ve been begging for since last year."
That got Logan’s attention. "Wait, seriously?"
"et in front of the preschool. Fifteen minutes before pickup."
Zeke hung up.
He wasn’t proud of it. Stalking wasn’t really his style. But he needed to know. If the child was Georgia’s, chances were Georgia or Cassidy would be there to pick her up.
Then he needed to see for himself.
When Logan finally arrived, he was grinning from ear to ear. "Damn, I didn’t think you were serious. I’ve already nad the car."
Zeke shot him a glare. "Just shut up and look."
Logan leaned against the fence beside him and gave him a once-over. "You’re seriously doing all this? For a maybe?"
Zeke’s jaw tightened.
Logan smirked. "Man, you’ve got it bad."
Zeke didn’t respond. He just kept his eyes on the preschool gates.
Waiting. Again.
Zeke turned to Logan, voice low. "Do you rember the girl’s face? The one with Cassidy?"
Logan scratched the back of his head. "Not really. I didn’t get a good look. She was wearing a cap, one of those with the brim pulled down low. Covered half her face."
Zeke shot him a look, sharp, annoyed. "Seriously?"
Logan lifted his hands. "Hey, I didn’t know I was supposed to be morizing faces for you."
Zeke sighed and rubbed his temple.
"Can we wait inside?" he asked after a pause, glancing toward the front gates.
Logan shrugged. "Sure. It’s open during pickup."
They both made their way through the low gate, walking up the paved path toward the main school building. Teachers and staff moved around them, keeping an eye on children as the end-of-day bustle began.
A few minutes later, the first wave of kids appeared, so skipping happily, others dragging their backpacks behind them. So ran straight into the arms of waiting parents, others scanned the crowd, searching for familiar faces.
Zeke stood still, scanning the small groups.
Then, from the corner of his eye, he spotted her.
A little girl, maybe three or four, standing with two other children. One boy, one girl. They were talking, giggling about sothing only they understood. And then, one by one, her friends left, pick up by parents or nannies. She waved goodbye with the tiniest smile, then turned to wait quietly by herself.
Zeke found himself walking toward her.
He didn’t know why.
Maybe it was curiosity. Maybe it was instinct. Maybe it was the echo of a mory, of a video call he once overheard, where Xavier had briefly spoken to a little girl, and in the background, Cassidy’s voice had co through, soft and unmistakable.
He stopped a few feet away, watching her.
She didn’t notice him yet.
And suddenly... Zeke needed to know. Was this the sa girl Logan had seen? Was she the girl from the video call? Was she—?
Zeke stepped closer.
The little girl stiffened, frowning slightly as she instinctively took a step back, putting a bit of space between them.
His lips twitched. "What’s your na, kid?" he asked gently.
The girl looked up at him warily. "My mom told not to talk to strangers."
Zeke blinked, taken aback by her clear, firm tone, and how confidently she stood her ground for soone so small.
Smart girl.
He smiled faintly. "Is your na Claire?"
Her eyes widened in surprise. "How do you know my na?"
Zeke tilted his head, his smile widening just a little. "Didn’t your mom tell you not to talk to strangers?"
Claire’s mouth dropped open slightly. Then, realizing what she’d just done, she gasped and slapped both hands over her lips.
***
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