Eleanor nodded. "Make sure to dry this umbrella properly—I need to return it."
"Alright."
After a warm shower, Eleanor felt more at ease. It was already late April; a little rain wasn't likely to give her a cold.
She stepped out of the bathroom, wrapped in a bathrobe, just as a message from Joel popped up on her phone, reminding her to rest at home today.
That small gesture warmed her heart.
At three o'clock, Ian sent a message saying he'd pick up their daughter.
He parked in the basement and carried Evelyn up from the elevator in his arms.
Their golden retriever, Princess, wagged her tail excitedly as she greeted the father and daughter duo. Evelyn giggled, crouching down to play with Princess, while Ian headed upstairs. As he reached the landing on the second floor, he nearly collided with Eleanor in the hallway.
Eleanor instinctively pressed herself back against the wall, preferring that to even the slightest brush with him.
Ian shot her a cold, sharp look, his eyes full of some unspoken resentment, then strode into his room and slammed the door hard enough to rattle the frame.
Eleanor went downstairs to spend time with her daughter. Soon, Evelyn's laughter drifted through the house, bright and infectious.
Joslyn had prepared a delicious dinner, the aroma filling the house. Outside, thunder rumbled and rain lashed the windows, but under the warm glow of the chandelier, the home felt safe and cozy.
As dinner approached, Eleanor was just stepping into the foyer when she overheard Ian on the phone.
"There's a blackout?"
"Alright, I'll come over."
She didn't need to guess—Vanessa was calling him. In weather like this, Vanessa would want nothing more than to curl up in his arms and wait out the storm.
Eleanor was scared of thunder and lightning too. Once upon a time, she liked to cling to Ian when the storms hit, holding him close even if he was reluctant.
Now, she still feared the storms, but for her daughter's sake, she could face anything.
That night, Eleanor snuggled under the covers with Evelyn, telling bedtime stories until her daughter drifted off to sleep. But Eleanor herself lay awake, restless. The thunder outside was relentless, shaking the windows and making it impossible to rest.

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