Jack’s POV
Dinner was louder than I’d planned for.
Ava had insisted on helping, despite Jennifer slipping back into the kitchen to try and shoulder the task herself. The woman returned in clean clothes, hair brushed back, face still a little pale but determined. She’d carried herself with a fragile steadiness, like a porcelain plate someone had glued back together, pretending it was whole.
The kids, of course, didn’t let her remain invisible.
“Jenny!” Aria shouted the moment she saw her. “You changed!”
“Where’s the flour?” Ronan asked with mock suspicion.
Caelan tilted his head. “You’re still pink in the cheeks.”
Aria insisted on climbing into her lap despite there being plenty of chairs. Ronan tried to snatch the bread roll from the basket before it even touched the table. Caelan,
