Jennifer's POV
The morning sun streaming through my window didn’t just wake me; it felt like it was personally congratulating me. A lightness, a pure, unburdened joy, fizzed in my veins. The grief and fear of the previous day had been washed clean by tears and laughter, leaving behind a radiant calm. Today was a celebration. Today was to make up for lost time.
I jump out of my bed and practically move into the kitchen, where my mother was already sipping coffee. Happy and Peculiar were slumped at the table, still looking sleep-soft.
“Good morning, my beautiful family!” I announced. We are going shopping.”
That got their attention. Two heads snapped up, eyes blinking away sleep.
“Shopping?” Happy ask. “For what?”
“For anything! For everything!” I laughed. “Consider it a belated ‘I’m
