JULIA
I stepped into the apartment and let out a long, heavy sigh as I closed the door.
The scent of sugar and vanilla welcomed me, but even that wasn’t enough to shake off my exhaustion.
Dropping my bag by the door, I kicked off my shoes and made my way toward the kitchen, where I heard faint voices and the clanging of utensils.
“Mommy!” Andy’s excited voice greeted me before I even rounded the corner.
There he was, my five-year-old bundle of energy, standing on his tiptoes by the kitchen counter. I leaned down and pressed a small kiss on his cheek, savoring the warmth of his smile.
“Hi, bub. Did you have a good day?” I asked.
"Aunt Sarah and I had a fun time," he said.
“We even got you a cake!” he then exclaimed, pointing toward the counter where Sarah stood with a wide, kn
