Nancy's POV

"I need to get something at the mall," Mom said, grabbing her purse from the kitchen counter.

She glanced at the clock on the wall—the one with the chipped edge from when we moved in last year.

"We're out of milk and bread, and I saw a sale on those canned tomatoes you like for pasta. I won't take long, maybe an hour."

I nodded, stirring my coffee slowly, the steam rising in lazy curls.

My heart kicked up a notch, but I kept my face perfectly neutral, sipping from the ceramic mug to hide any flicker of anticipation in my eyes.

Jacob sat across the table, his...