*Zara*
It didn’t take us long to get ready for the trip, and soon, we were getting ready to head out. I noticed my father looking at his phone with a deep frown and then up to me.
I walked over, asking, “What’s the matter?”
“We just got some fairly bad news.”
“Oh no. Should we delay going to the summer home?” I looked over my shoulder toward Noah, who was making the final preparations as we spoke. My father shook his head.
“No. There is nothing we can do about it right now. I didn’t want to bring this up and stress you after all you’ve been through, but I fear it may be necessary now.”
My mother put a gentle hand on his shoulder. “Our daughter can handle it. She’s handled so much already, and we can’t keep her in the shadows about it anymore.”
My stomach lurched anxiously at how they were speaking so carefully and with so much concern. I knew this was anything but good.
