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When I arrived at my parents’ house / Chapter 2 / 4

Chapter 2 – The Call She Never Expected

Claire pulled into the parking lot of a small family diner twenty minutes away.

The children slid into a booth beside the window.

A waitress smiled warmly.

"What can I get for you?"

Claire looked at her children.

"What would you like?"

Noah hesitated.

"Can I... have chicken?"

"Of course."

Lily whispered,

"And mashed potatoes?"

Claire smiled through tears.

"You can have dessert too."

For the first time that afternoon, both children smiled.

Then Claire's phone rang again.

She almost ignored it.

Instead, she answered.

Her mother was sobbing so hard she could barely speak.

"Claire... please... come back..."

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