“Caroline, you already do too much for us,” she stresses those words as her arms slide to cross over her chest. “It’s not – you spent way too much on her today.” Hannah gestures to the bags in her hands, let alone the ones Abbie took with her to her room. “I didn’t ask you to do this.” Her voice is quiet and tight with something Caroline doesn’t understand.

She places the bags on the floor as they start weighing her down, confusion sliding firmly into place as she shakes her head. “You didn’t,” she slowly says in agreement, “But –”

“But you’re going to let me pay you back.” Hannah’s voice is firm and not meant to be insulting, Caroline can sense that.

So she doesn’t know why that feels like a slap in the face, but it does and she recoils a half a step with the feeling of it. “I don’t want your money, Hannah.”

“Taking Abbie back to school shopping isn’t your responsibility.” Her tone leaves no room for argument and it isn’t sharp, not really. Just matter-of-fact.

But Caroline feels the words acutely and for a rare time, she is truly at a loss for words. She doesn’t even know where this came from, this push back from Hannah about something like taking Abbie shopping.

“You’ve never had a problem with me taking Abbie out before.” She points out, mostly because it’s all she can say through the confused hurt that is clouding her.

Her feelings must reflect on her face or in her voice or both, because the hard set of Hannah’s jaw almost immediately vanishes. “It’s not you taking her out, it’s… I don’t need you to provide for us.” She pauses for a brief second, gray eyes closing tightly. “For – for Abbie. I need to do that, Caroline. After spending so long with Michael and only just now being divorced and truly a single parent – I have to be the one who does that,” her voice so easily melts into a tone that begs for Caroline to understand her. “You know what I mean?”

She… doesn’t. Not really. But Caroline supposes she’s never been in a position to understand where this is coming from, not being a parent and all.

“I didn’t spend that much.” She counters, and it’s not a total lie; she’d had to cap their shopping trip eventually. “And honestly, most of it has a specific purpose.” Caroline bends to rummage and quickly pulls out a few items to prove her point. “She needed the extra shorts for when she starts soccer, right? And I got a few shirts and stuff for her to keep at my place, if you don’t mind, because when we cook or bake… well, I think she takes after me on that front.”