“And I need a fancy dress! Like a princess!”
Something in his chest tightened.
A fancy dress.
He knew what that meant.
New. Shiny. Store-bought.
Expensive.
“Of course,” he said softly, forcing a smile. “We’ll figure something out.”
That night, after Melissa had fallen asleep, Mark sat at the kitchen table staring at his bank account.
The numbers didn’t lie.
Rent. Utilities. Groceries.