The morning Noah and Amina were due to arrive felt strangely ordinary at first. Sunlight broke through the clouds in pale shafts, catching on the golden leaves that still clung to the trees along Maple Lane. Elias and I had been up since dawn, moving through the house with quiet purpose — straightening cushions on the porch, checking that the guest towels were folded, and making sure the coffee was fresh and strong.
Elias stood at the kitchen window, watching the driveway. His shoulders were tense, but when I stepped up beside him and slipped my arm around his waist, he relaxed a fraction and rested his hand over mine.
“I keep telling myself it’s just a visit,” he said. “Two nights. That’s all. We don’t have to solve everything this weekend.”
I nodded, leaning my head against his should
