Agnes
I straightened my blouse one last time before pushing open the glass door to the design department. It had been almost a month since I’d last set foot in the office—first because of the fire, then because of everything with Thea and the house rebuild.
I wasn’t nervous, exactly, but there was a strange fluttering in my stomach as I stepped inside.
“SURPRISE!”
I nearly jumped out of my skin at the shouts. Blinking in shock, I took in the scene: a banner reading “WELCOME BACK AGNES!” was hung across the far wall, colorful cupcakes were arranged on a table in the center of the room, and my entire team was grinning at me.
“What the—” I started, then found myself engulfed in a hug as Gertrude barreled into me.
“We’ve missed you so much,” she said, squeezing me tigh
