The driver nced at them in the rearview mirror, tossing back a casual reply.


    Tara felt a jolt in her chest. She quietly slipped the file out of her bag and flipped it open.


    "Reese." The name stared up at her from the first page, making her fingertips tremble. She turned a few more pages, her face growing paler with every word.


    "Water..." Zach mumbled, voice barely above a whisper.


    Tara set the file down by her feet, then reached into the small fridge between the seats for a bottle of water. She twisted off the cap, but instead of handing it over, she hesitated.


    The second Zach leaned his head back, Tara tipped the bottle, pouring water all over the file.


    "Oh my gosh!" she eximed, scrambling to wipe the water away. She watched the ink blur and run, and finally let out a shaky breath of relief.


    Half-awake and confused, Zach reached for her hand. "Babe, stop fussing. Just hold me, okay?"


    ***


    Reese stood on the curb, waiting for her ride. She watched as the car blended into the traffic, its taillights shrinking until they disappeared around the corner.


    The mix of too much wine and the cold night air hit her hard. By morning, she woke up with a splitting headache and a fever that left her shivering despite how hot she felt.


    She forced herself out of bed, called a cab, and headed to the hospital.


    The nurse frowned at the reading-39 degrees.


    The doctor nced over her chart, frowning even deeper. "Looks like you never really recovered after your miscarriage."


    "You didn''t take time to rest? Your body''s already weak. You really need to take care of yourself.


    "You should stay here for a few days. I''ll write you some recipes for nourishing food. Make sure you actually eat."


    Reese thanked him, took the prescription, and dragged herself to the cashier. She stopped short when she spotted the people ahead of her.


    Sofia was leaning on Sebastian''s shoulder, sitting in the waiting area. Not far away, Robbie stood on tiptoe at the payment window, using his smartwatch to scan and pay.


    "You''re such a good boy, helping your mom like this," someone praised.


    Robbie''s whole face lit up. He bounced over to Sofia. "I paid your bill. I''ll go get your medicine now. You''ll feel better after you take it.”


    "Thank you, Robbie. It''s just a little cold, nothing big," Sofia said, smiling as she ruffled his hair.


    Once the three of them left, Reese finally stepped up to the window and handed over her forms.


    "All alone?" the nurse asked, nodding toward the seats behind her. "Go grab a seat. Once your room''s ready, I''ll let you know."


    Reese managed a tired smile and found a seat, not realizing Robbie had nced back at her from the elevator.


    Robbie''s eyes lit up when he saw her. Then he remembered how Sofia hade overst night to practice baking. When they ran out of supplies, they went out into the night together to buy more. That must have been when Sofia caught her cold. Robbie wrinkled his nose in worry.


    "What do you want for lunch?" Sebastian asked as he helped Sofia into the elevator.


    "I don''t really want anything," Sofia replied, her voice soft. "Except maybe that pumpkin soup we had at your officest time. That was nice."


    "I''ll have someone send some over," Sebastian said, pulling out his phone.


    Robbie tugged at his sleeve. "Dad, I know who made that soup. If you ask someone else, it won''t taste the same. Auntie''s not feeling well. Why don''t you stay with her in the room? I''ll go make a call."


    Robbie heard everything. He knew that soup hade from his mom, who had sent it to Sebastian''s office. He''d had some at home too. It''s sweet andforting.


    After they got out of the elevator, Sebastian and Sofia went to the hospital room. Robbie stayed in the hallway and used his smartwatch to call Reese.


    "Hello?" Reese''s voice was raspy, but Robbie didn''t notice.


    "Mom, can you make some pumpkin soup and bring it to the hospital? The same one you were just at."


    "No time. No mood. No energy." Reese hung up, finished her paperwork, and got into the elevator.


    When someone rushed toward her, she instinctively held the door open.


    "Ma''am?" Brady hurried over, pausing when he saw how flushed she looked. "Are you running a fever?"


    Reese didn''t answer. She just stared at the file in his hand.


    If she remembered right, that was the divorce agreement she''d dropped off at Sebastian''s officest week.


    Brady followed her gaze and exined, "Mr. Ratliff has been swamped. He hasn''t had a chance to look at it. He only asked me to find it yesterday, but it was alreadyte. I brought it over first thing this morning."