Chapter 98: Starting Over
Margaret didn’t wait for Claire to wake up from her nap. She said goodbye to Cassidy, Clara, and Zeke, explaining that she had another appointment later that afternoon.
Once she left, the house felt quieter.
Zeke sat alone on one of the outdoor couches in the backyard, his eyes fixed on the pool but his thoughts were elsewhere.
A moment later, Cassidy stepped outside. She paused, then walked over.
"Can I sit here?" she asked softly.
Zeke looked up. "Of course."
Cassidy sat on the lounge chair next to his.
After a beat, she said, "Margaret must’ve been really shocked."
Zeke turned slightly to her. "Yeah."
He didn’t elaborate, but the weight in his voice was clear.
Cassidy glanced at him, then the pool. The breeze rustled the trees gently, and for a while, neither of them said anything.