“Mom?”
It was one word, but I heard the question inside it.
Is this okay?
Daniel sat beside the couch with one hand on his knee.
He gave a strained laugh. “Go ahead, sweetheart. Grandpa picked that out himself.”
Across the room, Richard watched over the rim of his mug.
His expression was pleasant, almost bored, but there was a stillness in his face that made my stomach tighten.
Emma untied the ribbon.
Inside the box was a pale pink skincare set with a face mist, lotion, lip balm, and a small jar labeled Snow Angel Glow Cream.
It looked expensive and grown-up.
It was exactly the kind of thing a nine-year-old would think was beautiful because it came in matching bottles and smelled faintly sweet when the lid opened.
“Oh,” Emma whispered. “It’s pretty.”
Richard smiled over the rim of his mug.
“Try the cream,” he said. “It’s gentle. For sensitive skin.”
