Zeke wanted to ask. About Claire. About Xavier. The questions sat on the tip of his tongue, pressing harder with each passing second.
But he held them back.
He was afraid that if he said the wrong thing, if he pushed too soon, it would shatter whatever fragile calm they had managed to create. And he didn't want to lose that. Not yet.
So he just nodded.
"Good," he said quietly. "That's good."
Zeke glanced down, then looked back at her, his voice softer this time. "Grandma misses you. She got your gift. Said she loved it."
Cassidy's expression shifted, guilt flickering in her eyes. At the mention of Elise, something in her chest pinched. She hadn't spoken to the older woman in years, and she hadn't shown up for her last birthday either.
She swallowed. "Is she okay?" Her voice came out quieter than she intended.
Zeke nodded. "Yeah. She's doing alright. Her health's been slipping a bit, though. Maybe because she misses Grandpa."
