They moved slowly, pausing to touch the soft, cloud-light fabrics, choosing bottles and rattles, arguing playfully over which stuffed animal was cuter. A fluffy gray elephant or a caramel-colored bunny.
"Elephant," Mara insisted. "Bunny," Vera countered. "Fine, both," they said in unison, dissolving into laughter that made the nannies look over with gentle smiles.
At the checkout counter, Vera grew quiet, watching as Mara paid, her face open, soft in a way it hadn't been in years.
"You look happy," Vera said finally.
Mara stilled for a second, then gave a small, almost shy smile. "I forgot what it felt like. But today… yeah. I think I am."
Vera reached for her hand, squeezed it tightly.
"You deserve this, Staf. Every second of it. And I'm not going anywhere this time."
They stepped out into the bright afternoon, bags in hand, a sleepy Andrew nestled against Mara's chest now
