Lisa stood in the middle of her living room, surrounded by laughter and warmth.
The sun filtered through the windows, into the festive decorations celebrating Grace’s return from Berlin.
The sweet aroma of freshly baked cookies wafted through the air, mingling with the sounds of excited chatter.
Grace was animatedly recounting her adventures, her eyes sparkling with joy, while Lisa’s younger children, Nathan and Sophia, listened intently.
Just then, her phone buzzed against the countertop, the noise jarring in the cheerful chaos.
She glanced at the screen and felt her stomach drop, it was her younger brother. The tone of his call made her pulse quicken.
“Hey, Lisa,” Mark’s voice came through, heavy and tinged with an underlying sadness. “I need to talk to you.”
Lisa’s heart raced,
