Chapter 70

OLIVIA “Mom, can we come see Great-Grandma again next week?” I raised my hand, pulled out a tissue, and gently wiped Hannah’s reddened eyes. Humans are emotional beings—parting always brings a quiet sadness, no matter how brief the separation. “We’ll be staying at my grandma’s house for quite a while during winter break,” I assured her softly. I had already filed for a one-week vacation leave, and Matthew had approved it. I knew how much Hannah missed her great-grandma, and with winter break just around the corner, it felt like the perfect opportunity for us to spend those days together at my grandma’s place. I opened the package Grandma had given me earlier. It was stuffed full of snacks, as if she had been saving them up over time just for us. They were all things rarely seen in this era—Necco Wafers, Mary Jane candies, Archway cookies, and cans of Shasta soda. These were snacks that had long been phased out or were nearly impossible to find in big cities. Tucked inside was also the