The two weeks began with a phone call.

"Are you sure about this?" Leander's voice crackled through Liora's phone as she stood in Dashiell's kitchen, watching the ocean through the windows.

"I think it's exactly what you need," Liora said, hating how easily the lie came now. "Intensive therapy with specialists. You'll make so much progress."

"But I'll miss you. And the baby—I won't be there for appointments—"

"It's only two weeks. And I'll be fine. Your mom will be here. Saskia too." Another lie. She'd already told Saskia she was going on a 'personal retreat' to process everything.

"I love you," Leander said. "So much. I'm doing this for...