The Turner-Langston estate buzzed with life as autumn settled gently over the city. The leaves in the garden danced in crimson and gold, and the distant hum of Ethan’s laughter echoed through the courtyard.
Cassie stood by the floor-to-ceiling window in her study, watching her son chase the family dog around the maple trees, his cheeks flushed from the cool air.
He was eleven now curious, bright, and just starting to discover who he wanted to be in the world.
Behind her, the soft knock on the door pulled her attention back inside.
“Come in,” she said, turning.
Hope entered, now sixteen, her frame tall and graceful, her face a perfect blend of Cassie’s fierce focus and Damon’s calm resolve.
“Got a minute?” Hope asked, holding a folder to her chest.
Cassie smiled. “Always for you.”
H
