Morning crept in slowly, pale sunlight spilling through the apartment windows and warming the hardwood floors. Abby sat at the small kitchen table, fingers wrapped around a mug of coffee that had already gone lukewarm. She hadn’t slept well. Every time she drifted off, her mind circled back to the same questions. Joe. The investigation. Lucas’s unexpected offer of help. The fragile sense of hope that had taken root in her chest, unwelcome and stubborn all at once.
The smell of butter and toast filled the air as Celia moved around the kitchen, humming softly under her breath. There was an ease to her this morning, a calm confidence Abby envied. Pregnancy suited her in a way Abby couldn’t quite put into words. Celia looked grounded, like she knew exactly where she belonged and who she was f
