Lavinia I pushed the front door open, my scrubs still carrying the faint scent of antiseptic. The night shift had been brutal, but I was finally home. Early morning light filtered through the windows as I stepped into the kitchen. There stood Alfred at the stove, flipping pancakes with focused expression he always wore when cooking. “Morning, love,” I said, setting my bag down on the counter. My voice came out tired but warm. Alfred turned around with a bright smile. “Hey, honey. Welcome home. How was your night?” “Endless. Three emergencies back to back. I’m exhausted.” I walked over and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. “You’re making breakfast already?” He slid a pancake onto a plate. “Figured everyone might want something before the day starts. The kids are still asleep. How abo

