Elara's POV
The hallway of Cora's school buzzed with the chaotic energy of children being dropped off. Colorful artwork lined the walls, displaying stick-figure families standing in front of lopsided houses. I spotted Cora's drawing immediately – three figures, with the tallest one standing apart from the other two.
"Mrs. Thorne!"
I turned to see Lily Hayes approaching, her son trailing behind her. Her smile was warm, if a bit hesitant.
"Good morning, Lily," I replied, watching Cora skip ahead to join her friends.
"I tried dropping off some homemade cinnamon buns at your place last week," Lily said. "But no one answered."
Before I could respond, Cora spun around. "Mom was home! She's always home when I'm not there."
The awkward silence that followed made my stomach twist. Lily's expression shifted from confusion to understanding, her eyes darting between Cora and me.
"I've moved, actually," I explained, keeping my voice light for Cora's benefit. "I should have mentioned it."