As much as Alice believed in herself, as much as she wanted to show her son what it meant to chase your dreams, there was still a quiet fear gnawing at her. Could she really do it? Could she balance it all—being a mother, working on this massive project, and rebuilding her life after the divorce?
She didn't realize she had been staring at Nolan until his voice broke through her thoughts.
"You okay, Alice?" he asked, a look of concern crossing his face. "You seem a little distant."
Alice blinked, quickly pulling herself back to the present. She flashed him a soft smile, though there was a hint of sadness in her eyes. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just... thinking about how much has changed, I guess."
Nolan nodded, his expression gentle. "I get that. Life throws a lot at us sometimes. But you're doing amazing here, Alice. Really. This project wouldn't be half of what it is without you."
