CHAPTER EIGHTY SIX

ELIZABETH

The next morning, the smell of toast and fresh coffee gently nudged me awake. I lay in bed for a moment, staring at the ceiling, trying to shake off the fog of sleep. My body was heavy, reluctant to move, but today was Alex's birthday, and I couldn’t afford to drag my feet. I had a whole day ahead of me, starting with breakfast and ending with birthday celebrations and a mall trip with Alex and Cheryl.

I finally pushed the covers back and slipped out of bed, my feet cold on the hardwood floor. As I padded down the hallway toward the kitchen, I heard my mom talking softly on the phone again. She was always handling some business deal or another, but today her voice had a lighter tone, like she was wrapping things up for the morning.

When I entered the kitchen, she glanced up at me and smiled, hanging up the phone with a click. “Good morning, sweetheart. You’re up just in time. Breakfast’s ready.”

I sat down at the table, blinking blearily as she slid a plate of toast and sc