BETH HAD RUSTLED UP a fast dinner of steak and chips with battered onion rings and a spicy pepper sauce. Thanks to the massage Jem’d given her, Lia seemed to be snoozing, leaving the adults to eat undisturbed—a trial ritual she and Sean had started a few days before. Seemed weird, though, seeing the two of them digging into their meals without the little one getting passed back and forth.
Finishing up chewing on a chunk of sauce-coated steak, I glanced past Ethan beside me, shovelling in food like he hadn’t eaten in months, and nodded to Beth. “This is great. Thanks, Beth.”
“You’re welcome,” she said, and though her smile was subtle, I knew she loved the praise.
Digging my fork into meat, I began sawing again, stalling when buzzing carried across from the sideboard. My gaze sliced over
