Clara's whispered confession, "I'm pregnant," hung in the air, a tiny, fragile bomb dropped into the heart of their otherwise comfortable kitchen. The chewing stopped. The low hum of the refrigerator seemed to amplify. The world tilted, then froze.
Dante, who had been about to take a bite of his sandwich, lowered it slowly, his hand freezing halfway to his mouth. His jaw, usually so set and unyielding, went slack. His eyes, normally a piercing blue, were wide with an unreadable mixture of shock and disbelief as they fixed on Clara.
Kai, halfway through pouring a glass of water, missed the glass entirely. Water spilled onto the counter, but he didn't seem to notice. His bright, usually animated face paled, all humor draining from it. His mouth opened slightly, but no sound came out.
Sila
