The Vermont sky was bathed in soft lavender and gold as twilight settled over the quiet countryside. Inside the house, the fire crackled gently in the living room hearth, casting a warm glow over everything it touched. Emily sat curled up on the couch in one of Oliver’s hoodies, her bare feet tucked under a knit blanket. A mug of tea rested on her belly as her free hand absently rubbed small, slow circles.
She looked up the moment she heard the door creak open. “You’re back.”
Oliver stepped in, looking like he was carrying both the weight of the world and the lightness of a victory. “Yeah,” he said, shrugging off his coat and stepping toward her.
Emily sat up straighter, trying to read his expression. “So? How did it go?”
He hesitated just long enough to make her nerves jolt, then smil
