The final full day of the visit unfolded under a bright, cool sky that made the autumn colors on Maple Lane pop even more vividly. Elias and I woke early, moving through the kitchen with the kind of quiet teamwork that had become natural over the past weeks. We prepared a simple but hearty breakfast — scrambled eggs, bacon, fresh fruit, and the last of the bagels Noah had brought. It felt important to end the weekend on a warm note.
Amina and Noah arrived around nine, both looking rested and relaxed. Noah carried a small notebook and immediately offered to help set the table.
“I’ve been taking notes on everything,” he admitted with a sheepish grin. “Amina warned me the porch is basically the heart of the house, so I wanted to remember how you do breakfast here.”
Elias chuckled, the soun
