She hated that Paige was so aware of the strain between them. Peter hadnt spoken to her very much in the past twelve hours. Rachel knew he was hurt and blindsided by the news about Alex Lynch, but he seemed devastated and angry about the fact that shed not only been diagnosed with the tumor but that shed kept it from him. Hed been cold and distant to her ever since theyd found the dead squirrel with the note in Paiges room. Theyd had arguments before, even a shouting match or two, but this icy silence was something new. And it was made worse with the heaviness of her health diagnosis. It had been hard enough to finally tell him, but then with this Alex Lynch business right at the end of it, it was a whole different sort of turmoil.

She watched idly as Paige went to Disney Plus and started scrolling through some of her familiar favorites. She didnt realize until about twenty minutes into Coco that she was still holding Paiges hand and that her daughters head was resting on her shoulder. A very sudden surge of emotion tore through Rachel and before she knew it, her eyes were watering with tears.

She blinked them back and subtly wiped them away, not wanting Paige to see. She already knew something was off between her parents. Seeing her motherwho rarely cried at allcrumple into a sobbing mess was only going to make matters so much worse.

Hey, Rachel?

She turned to the right, toward the kitchen, at the sound of Peters voice. It was soft, nearly in a whisper. He looked a little more at ease than he had in the last two days, so that was good.

Can we talk for a second, in the kitchen? he asked.

Rachel nodded, then gave Paige a kiss on the forehead. Immersed in the movie, Paige barely noticed she had moved. Rachel walked into the kitchen, grabbed a water from the fridge, and sat at the bar. Peter did not sit. He stood on the other side of the bar, as rigid as a statue, and Rachel noticed for the first time that he looked scared. His dark hair was in disarray and his eyes looked uncertaina rarity for Peter Gift. He almost looked like the nervous college sophomore shed met so many years ago and it hurt her deeplynot the appearance, but the sting of the sweet memory.

Its been a rough few days, he said simply.

Thats an understatement.