Rick joined me in the children’s room, his presence a comforting warmth as he sat beside me and our little ones. His deep voice carried a casual ease as he informed us, "I asked Lily to send up some food."
Soon enough, a warm, comforting aroma filled the room as Lily arrived with a tray laden with steaming bowls of corn and crab soup, a fresh garden salad, tender slices of beef, and chilled fruit juice for the children. A rich bottle of wine accompanied the meal for Rick and me.
We gathered around, eating as a family, laughter and conversation filling the space. The children eagerly slurped their soup, tiny giggles escaping between bites, while Rick and I shared quiet smiles over the rim of our glasses. For a moment, everything felt perfect—like a scene from a dream I wished would never
