“Mum. Dad’s here.”
Dave said it the way he said hard things. Flat. No drama. Like he had already processed it and was just delivering the information now.
Cloe’s hand tightened around Mac’s for one second before she let go and stood up.
Marshall was at the courtyard entrance. Dark coat, hands in his pockets, scanning the space with the unhurried ease of a man who had decided he had every right to be somewhere and was waiting for someone to confirm it. He found her face across the courtyard and something shifted in his posture. Then his eyes moved to Mac beside her and the shift became something colder.
Sophia appeared at Dave’s elbow. She looked at Marshall. Then at Dave’s face. Then she took one small step sideways so her shoulder was pressing against his. She did not say anything. Sh
