He nodded once, not meeting her eyes fully but not pulling away either.
Then her attention landed on me.
“You look exhausted.”
“I am exhausted.”
“Good,” she said briskly. “Means you’re working. Come inside.”
.....
Dad stayed in the master suite.
Laptop open. Phone pressed to his ear. He barely glanced up when we passed the doorway.
Just one short nod.
Eli noticed. His gaze lingered a second before he kept walking like he’d mentally filed the interaction away under not important.
....
The first afternoon exploded into noise and movement.
Kids splashing in the pool.
Lucinda chasing Kylie with sunscreen while Kylie screamed like she was being chased by sharks.
Malcolm tossing the twins into the shallow end while Gina yelled about safety and sunscreen simultaneously.
Eli sat cross-legged near the pool steps, Jensen practically glued to his side as Eli explained wiring systems inside Minecraft like he was giving a TED Talk.
Eli's obsession with train kind of stopped overnight and became this genius boy.
Jenny sat beside them clapping every time something exploded onscreen.
Hadley lounged under an umbrella, watching everything with wide, quiet wonder.
I brought her lemon water and dropped into the chair beside her.
“They’re loud,” she said.
“Yeah. Genetic flaw.”
She smiled softly, eyes drifting toward Eli. “He’s doing good though.”
“He likes explaining things. Makes him feel in control.”
Mom joined us, lowering herself into the chair beside Hadley.
“We need to discuss baby shower plans.”
Lucinda groaned from the pool. “Mom, she’s barely halfway through pregnancy!”
“I know the timeline,” Mom said calmly. “Planning is half the joy.”
Hadley laughed nervously. “I’ve never had one.”
Mom’s expression softened into something almost maternal and protective.
