The smell of fresh coffee drifted through the house, warm and inviting, coaxing Elizabeth from the last remnants of sleep. She pulled on a thick-knit cardigan over her top half, her bare feet padding softly against the wooden floors as she made her way downstairs.
Rounding the corner into the living room, she found Eloise already curled up on the couch, legs tucked beneath her, a steaming mug in hand. The television murmured softly in the background, some crime drama playing, though Eloise didn’t seem particularly invested, just something to fill the quiet of the morning.
“Well, look who finally decided to wake up,” Eloise teased, smirking over the rim of her mug.
Elizabeth rolled her eyes, running a hand through her tousled hair. “It’s barely nine.”
“Exactly,” Eloise quipped. “I’ve be
