Chapter 26
The kitchen was quiet except for the soft gurgle of the coffee pot and the rhythmic tap of Ethan’s spoon against his cereal bowl. Sunlight spilled through the window, soft and golden, catching dust motes dancing lazily in the air. Nadyia stood barefoot at the sink, mug in hand, watching the backyard come alive with birds. Noah sat at the table, flipping through a home improvement magazine with Ethan beside him, who was enthusiastically pointing at pictures of excavators and saying, “That’s Daddy’s!” every time he saw construction equipment. Liam leaned against the doorframe, still in sleep-wrinkled sweatpants and a faded T-shirt, scrolling through his phone. Peace. Until the phone in Nadyia’s back pocket buzzed. She pulled it out, glanced at the screen, and immediately straightened.
- Writer
