Chapter 42

Back at the house, the comforting aroma of warm soup filled the air. I ladled the soup into bowls and set them before Mom and Zane. The three of us sat around the small table, eating in quiet companionship. I didn't speak much—my thoughts were still tangled with Lucian and Judy's conversation. After dinner, as I dried my hands on a towel, Mom looked at me from the sofa, a gentle smile forming on her tired face. "I heard there is a bonfire by the lake tonight," she said softly. "You should go. Meet some old friends." Her words caught me off guard. I looked at her, unsure. "No… I don't think so." "You have been working nonstop," she said. "You never take a break. You never let yourself breathe. You need it, Anna. Go. Enjoy yourself a little. Don't stay cooped up just because of me." "But Mom… you're still recovering. I don't want to leave you alone." "I'm feeling better tonight," she insisted, giving me a reassuring look. "And Zane is here with me. I'll be fine, sweetheart." I turned to