The rules helped, not instantly or perfectly, but like guardrails keeping you on the road when things get slippery.
The next morning, Evelyn wrote them down as a reminder, not a contract: work hours, dinner a must, no phones after bedtime, and talking about travel beforehand.
She taped the list in her notebook, where she’d see it first thing.
Noah noticed and just adapted. He took over breakfast when she had early mornings and playfully shut her laptop at dinner.
“Boundary violation!” he’d joke.
She'd smile and close it. “Thanks for looking out.”
The house found a new rhythm. Not as easy as during the holidays, but tougher, earned.
The first test came sooner than they thought.
Dana emailed late Thursday, flagged Urgent. Evelyn read it twice, heart racing.
They needed her in Chicag
