Her heart sank as Joana softly urged Michaela, "Come on, love," while Elijah carried on negotiating with the photographer. Not wanting Michaela to witness the unsettling scene and form any negative impressions, Joana took her hand, guiding her over to the car. Focused on settling Michaela into the car seat and preparing for the journey home, Joana busied herself to prevent tears from welling up.
In that moment, Joana had momentarily forgotten Elijah's desire to keep her, their daughter, and the future baby hidden. The fleeting sense of normalcy they had experienced that day had momentarily made them feel like an ordinary little family.
The photograph that Elijah was compensating the photographer handsomely for promptly served as a stark reminder of the unbridgeable gap between them, no m
