Page 65 of Lose You Twice

I stop walking.

For a second, I just stare at the screen.

I’m not mad at her, which almost makes it worse.

It would be easier if I could be mad, but Mom works until her feet hurt, and her smile goes thin, then apologizes to me like she’s the one asking too much. She’s not. The hospital is. Dad is. The bills are. The whole broken system we keep calling temporary because permanent is too depressing.

I type back a reply.

Wren: Yeah. I’ve got it.

Mom: I’ll make it up to you.

Wren: You don’t have to. It’ll be fine! I don’t work with the team again until Monday.

Mom: I don’t deserve you, sweetie. Love you!

Wren: Love you too

I get into my car and make the mental list.

First, pick up twins. Then, make dinner, check Justin’s assignment sheet to see how many are magically missing, ask Holden about his math quiz without making him defensive, laundry, gather the books for tomorrow’s library run, make sure Lily’s sneakers are dry, email my professor about the discussion post, then shower, if ambition strikes. More than likely, I’ll collapse into a pile on top of my bed and stare at my ceiling.

Maybe fall asleep.

A girl can dream.

The elementary school pickup line is already moving when I pull in. Daisy waves from the curb like she is directing an airplane to the gate. Lily stands beside her with both backpack straps pulled tight, expression serious, as if she has spent the entire day being disappointed.

Daisy climbs in first. “You smell funny.”

“Hello to you too.”

“It’s not bad like Holden after his games,” she says, buckling herself in. “It’s just weird.”

Lily slides in beside her. “Daisy lost her library book.”

“I did not lose it. I know where it’s at.”

“Where?”

Daisy pauses. “Not with me right now.”

Lily looks at me in the rearview mirror. “That means lost.”

“That means I don’t know,” Daisy says.

I pull away from the curb. “Everyone, take a breath. We will find the book.”

“It’s about a dog,” Daisy adds.

“That narrows it down to every book you’ve ever chosen.”

“She only chooses books with dogs,” Lily says.

“Dogs are so cute.”

“Dogs eat socks.”