Monday morning fell back into the familiar, exhausting rhythm of the Copper household. The lingering exhaustion from the drug-fueled weekend, coupled with the emotional whiplash of their new, fragile arrangement, made the routine feel heavier than usual.
Laura, looking tired but determined, was already moving through the kitchen, preparing meager breakfasts. She caught Blake as he grabbed his coffee.
“B, I need a favor after school,” Laura said, her voice strained. “I signed the kids up for the Christmas Toy Bank at the rec center. It's too far for Travis, and I can’t leave Mark. Can you stop by and pick up the toys?”
Blake, his body still slightly sore from the relentless exertion of the weekend—a physical reminder of the woman he was trying to keep at arm’s length—took a slow sip of h
