Leah
Bella hopped out of the car with her backpack bouncing against her shoulders, already halfway into a story about a spelling test before I’d even turned the engine off.
“And then Mrs. Palmer said I spelled necessary right on the first try,” she finished proudly, slamming the door shut.
“I knew you would,” I said, smiling despite the knot in my chest. “I’ll see you after school.”
She paused, hand on the door handle, eyes thoughtful. “You’re going back to the hospital, right?”
“Yes,” I said gently. “But I’ll be back before bedtime.”
She nodded, satisfied, then leaned in and wrapped her arms around my neck for a quick, fierce hug. “Tell Grandpa I said hi.”
“I will.”
She ran toward the gate without looking back, small and sure and entirely too grown for six.
I waited until she dis
