“Mommy, who was that man?” Avery asked, swinging her little legs back and forth as she sat comfortably on Liora’s lap.

Liora paused mid-motion, the brush hovering in Avery’s soft hair. For a second, her hand stilled completely.

The question came sooner than she expected.

Her chest tightened slightly, but she forced her expression to remain calm.

“No one, baby,” Liora said gently, resuming the brushing as if nothing had happened. “Just a customer.”

Avery nodded easily, satisfied with the answer