Anika:
The room goes deathly still at Isabel’s question.
I swear, even the air goes still.
I open my mouth, but nothing comes out. Not a word. Not even a breath.
Matteo doesn’t say anything either. He just… looks at me.
Like he’s waiting for my reaction. Same way Isabel is, her big sparkly eyes bouncing between us like she just dropped a bomb and is waiting to see what blows up.
“Mummy!” she chirps again, louder this time. That impatient kind of excited. “Don’t you think so? He’s super handsome and I know he’ll take good care of-"
“Oh no, Isabel!” Jenny jumps in—thank God—and hurries over, gently prying her little hands off Matteo’s shirt. “Why don’t we go upstairs, hmm? Let’s check out all the goodies your mummy brought.”
She lifts the two bags like they’re some kind of magical di
