Carla arrived at Mrs. Parnell’s house just as she had promised, the familiar warmth of the quiet neighborhood surrounding her. She made her way to the door, greeted by the frazzled mother of two young children who were already running in circles around the living room. Carla barely had time to exchange pleasantries before the children pulled her into their whirlwind of playtime. But as the laughter and chaos filled the air, her mind couldn’t stop replaying the conversation she had just had with Lucas.
Sighing deeply, she stepped into the living room and quickly excused herself from the children, slipping outside into the cool evening air. Her phone was already in her hand, and she dialed Luna’s number without hesitation. The phone rang for a few seconds before Luna picked up.
“Carla, wha
