After bseveral /bsilentb, /btense seconds, Brian finally set the bowl down and said, “My mom said she misses us. She’d like to have a family dinner togetherb.” /b

Jessica let out a silentughb, /bthe kind that cut deep. She sneered inwardly, ‘She wants me to go back, and I should follow?‘

bJust /bthenb, /bBrian’s phone rang. Ever the workaholic, he answered immediately.

“Mr. Atkinson, I-” Madeline’s voice sounded.

Brian nced at bJessica /band turned baway /bslightly to listen.

bJessica /bonly recognized it bwas /bMadeline’s voice, but she didn’t hear what she said.

He mumbled a bfew /b“uh–huhsb” /band ended the call, but he noticed that bJessica’s /bgaze only turned colder.

“It was businessb,/b” he exined, trying to sound neutral.

Jessica gave a dry, biting smile. “Did I say anything?”