“I told her we have our own meals planned for the entire month.”

The phone screen went dark as the call went to voicemail, leaving the kitchen completely quiet again.

Ethan picked up his wooden spoon, turned the stove burner down to medium heat, and shifted June slightly higher against his shoulder.

A second later, the small speaker on the counter chimed as a new text message arrived from the same contact number.

The banner preview appeared across the top of the dark screen, readable from three feet away in the bright kitchen light.