GENESIS

“Yeah, go ahead,” Zarina said, wiping her hands on her apron with a grin. “We’ll close up. Go get your little monsters.”

I looked between them, Cady already stacking the last trays, Zarina double-checking the register and shook my head, throat suddenly tight.

“What am I going to do without you guys?” I said softly.

Cady rolled her eyes, but her smile was warm. “You’ll survive. You’ve survived worse than us closing shop by ourselves.”

Zarina walked over and pulled me into a one handed hug. “You’re not abandoning us. You’re just being a mom. We’ve got this.”

I hugged her back, then reached for Cady. She squeezed me...