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“Night told me you didn’t have an easy time when you were pregnant with him,” I said. “Was this soup something you ate a lot back then?”

“Oh, yes. That boy was an even bigger pain back then, and he wasn’t even born yet.” She chuckled to herself. “Those were some of the hardest months of my life, and this soup was pretty much the only thing I ate besides bananas, peanut butter, and pickles.”

“I see.” I made mental notes as she cooked the soup. When it was bubbling on the stove, she had me taste it. I found the broth rich and filling, with the peanut butter adding an interesting complexity to the flavor.

She fixed us each a bowl, and we ate at the table. The cabin felt warm and happy and full of potential. While Violet entertained me with stories of Night’s childhood, I thought again about the ritual and my baby. I was so close to learning more about my birth parents, and I couldn’t wait.

Chapter 21

Night

I caught the savory scent of dinner even before stepping into the cabin. As delici