Liam shifted from foot to foot, his small face tight with effort.

“I need to ease this one,” he said again, voice strained, one hand pressed to his stomach. “Mom, please. I really need to.”

Ivy tightened her grip on his wrist without meaning to. The crowd around them was thick, voices loud, children running everywhere. She glanced toward the rides, then toward the food stalls, then back to her son.

“Liam, you already went earlier,” she said, trying to keep her voice calm. “You can ...