The bubble of Montauk was perfect. It was a world of salt air, dragon cakes, and a "Papa" who slept in the guest room but made pancakes in the morning.
But bubbles, by definition, are temporary.
It was Sunday evening. The sun was setting on the weekend of Ethan’s sixth birthday. The guests were gone. The bouncy castle had been deflated, a sad puddle of vinyl on the lawn.
Aurora stood in the kitchen, packing the last of the leftovers. Liam was outside, helping Ethan find "treasure" (sea glass) one last time before dark.
Her phone buzzed on the counter.
It wasn't Sophia. It wasn't Elias.
It was a news alert.
CROSS EMPIRE STOCK SURGES ON RUMORS OF "ROYAL WEDDING."
Aurora stared at the screen. Royal Wedding.
The press had taken the photos from the hospital—the "united front"—and the l
