I cleared my throat, reaching out to ruffle her hair. "This is incredible."
Rose practically glowed under the cascade of praise, a soft flush blooming across her cheeks. Her little feet swung happily beneath the chair, toes barely brushing the tiled floor, as she lifted a forkful of her own pancake to her lips. The stack on her plate was slightly lopsided, imperfect in the most endearing way—evidence of small hands determined to create something wonderful. She took her bite, the sweetness blooming on her tongue, and for a moment, everything felt just right.
Then she looked up.
Four pairs of eyes were staring back at her. Bright, expectant, brimming with mischief and affection. The kind of look that siblings reserve for the moments just before playful chaos erupts. “What?” Rose asked, he
