A stack of papers sat in front of her, neatly arranged, but untouched. She stared at the forms, her mind busy with thoughts. Thomas entered, still pulling on his sweatshirt, his hair messy from sleep. He poured himself a cup of water then leaned on the counter, noticing the papers. “Is that the school stuff?” he asked, taking a sip. Emma nodded, tracing the edge of the top form with her finger. “It is. I filled most of it out last night, but I keep hesitating to send it in.” Thomas walked over and sat beside her. “Why? You’ve been excited about Lily starting school.” Emma sighed. “I have, but now that it’s here, I’m nervous. It feels like such a big step. She’s still so little, you know?” Thomas reached over, resting a hand on hers. “She’s ready, Em. She’s smart, confident, and curious. School’s going to be great for her.” Emma gave him a small smile. “You think so?” “I know so,” Thomas said. “Remember when she learned to write her name? She showed it to everyone. She’
The house felt quieter than usual. Emma sat at the couch, staring at the clock on the wall. Thomas walked in, a newspaper tucked under his arm, and sat across from her. “She’s only been gone for an hour,” he said, trying to keep his tone light. Emma sighed, smiling faintly. “I know. It just feels...strange.” Thomas leaned back in his chair, glancing out the window. “It’s like the house doesn’t know what to do without her.” Emma nodded. “I keep thinking about her sitting in that classroom. Do you think she’s okay?” Thomas set the newspaper down and leaned forward. “Emma, she was practically skipping into the school. She’s fine. Probably already charming her whole class.” Emma laughed softly. “You’re probably right. It’s just hard not to wonder. What if she gets scared? Or if she misses us?” Thomas reached across the table and took her hand. “She’s brave, Em. And she knows we’ll be there for her. We’ve given her everything she needs to handle this.” Emma squeezed his ha
The house felt alive again as Lily’s laughter echoed through the rooms. It was the evening of her first day of school, and her excitement still hadn’t worn off. She sat cross-legged on the living room floor, her sparkly backpack beside her, retelling every moment of her day for the third time. “And then Ella said, ‘Let’s play dragons,’ and I said, ‘I love dragons!’ So we pretended the playground was our castle,” Lily said, grinning wide. Emma sat on the couch, listening with a warm smile. “It sounds like you and Ella are going to be great friends.” Lily nodded. “She said she likes sparkles and dragons, just like me!” Thomas leaned against the doorway, arms crossed, watching his daughter’s energy with amusement. “Well, with a combination like that, it’s no surprise you two hit it off.” Lily paused, her face serious. “Daddy, do you think Ella has a dragon at home?” Thomas tilted his head as if deep in thought. “Hmm. I’m not sure. You should ask her tomorrow.” Lily clapped
The living room remained calm, Emma leaned against Thomas as they sat together, the blanket still pulled up to her lap. The glow of the lamp gave the room a warm, golden light. After a few minutes, Thomas shifted slightly, breaking the silence. “Do you remember your first day of school?” Emma tilted her head up to look at him. “Hmm. I do, actually. I was terrified. My mom had to practically drag me to the car.” Thomas chuckled. “That’s hard to imagine now. You’re one of the most confident people I know.” Emma laughed softly. “That confidence took a while to build. I didn’t talk to anyone that first day. I sat by myself during lunch, and I was convinced I’d never make a single friend.” “What happened?” Thomas asked, curious. Emma smiled, her gaze distant as she remembered. “There was this girl, Sarah, during my primary school days. She sat next to me and offered me half of her sandwich because I looked sad. It was peanut butter and jelly, and I hated peanut butter. But I at
As the soft glow of sunlight filtering the curtains. The house felt peaceful as Emma stirred awake, her eyes blinking slowly as she adjusted to the light. Beside her, Thomas was already stretching, his hand reaching toward her as he smiled.“Morning,” he said, his voice low and soft. Emma smiled sleepily. “Good morning. Did you sleep well?” Thomas nodded, sitting up. “Better than I thought I would. I was half-expecting Lily to wake us up before dawn.” Emma chuckled as she slid out of bed. “She was too excited yesterday. She probably tired herself out.” “Let’s hope so,” Thomas said, grinning. “She’ll need her energy for another big day.” Emma pulled on her robe and moved to the window, pulling the curtains open just a little wider. Outside, the world was waking up,“It’s going to be a nice day,” she said softly. Thomas stood and stretched his arms over his head. “Perfect weather for school and dragon stories.” Emma rolled her eyes playfully. “Always dragons with you two.”
Thomas lingered for a moment, watching through the window as Lily’s small figure walked toward the school bus, her bright backpack bouncing with every step. Emma stood beside him, her arms crossed loosely as she smiled. “She looked so excited,” Emma said, her voice warm. Thomas nodded, turning away from the window. “I think that drawing might have earned me ‘coolest dad’ points.” Emma chuckled, following him into the kitchen. “You’re lucky she’s not old enough to judge your artistic skills yet.” Thomas gasped in mock offense as he poured himself another cup of coffee. “Are you suggesting my dragon wasn’t a masterpiece?” Emma raised an eyebrow as she leaned against the counter. “It was a good effort. Let’s leave it at that.” Thomas grinned, stepping closer to her with his coffee in hand. “Careful, you might end up inspiring another work of art. Maybe a stick figure family this time.” Emma laughed, swatting lightly at his arm. “I think Lily is the artist of this house. Yo
Thomas stood at the kitchen sink, staring at the half-empty coffee pot. He rubbed his face with one hand, trying to shake off the last remnants of sleep. The house had grown busy again. Lily's return from school marked the end of their quiet morning. Toys were scattered across the living room, and the faint hum of cartoons played in the background. Emma leaned against the doorway, watching him with a small smile. “Didn’t get enough peace this morning?” Thomas turned and grinned, shaking his head. “It’s like the house went from zero to a hundred in no time.” Emma walked over and placed a hand on his back. “It always does. But you’re right we needed that break earlier.” Thomas glanced at her. “And now I feel like I’m ready to take on a marathon.” “Good,” Emma said, smiling as she poured herself another cup of coffee. “You’re on snack duty tonight.” Thomas groaned. “How did I get stuck with snacks again?” “Because Lily asked for you,” Emma replied, amused. “Apparently, yo
Thomas woke up to the gentle golden light spilling through the curtains. For a brief moment, he lay still, savoring the silence of the early morning. The calm wouldn’t last long today was the day. The zoo day. They had promised Lily for weeks, and there had been no shortage of reminders from her. He glanced at the clock: 7:15 a.m. With a quiet groan, he stretched and sat up. Next to him, Emma was still sound asleep, her hair a mess against the pillow. Thomas smiled to himself as he leaned over and kissed her forehead. “Wake up, sleepyhead,” he whispered softly. Emma stirred, one eye cracking open. “Five more minutes,” she mumbled, pulling the blanket over her face. “Zoo day,” Thomas reminded her with a grin. The blanket lowered an inch. “Already?” “You know she’s been talking about this for two weeks. It’s happening.” Emma sighed dramatically but smiled. “Fine. Coffee first, though.” “Deal.” Thomas swung his legs out of bed and padded toward the kitchen. On the way,
The morning came quietly, with the first light spilling through the windows like a gentle invitation. Thomas woke up,for a moment, he stayed in bed, watching Emma as she slept. Her face was peaceful, framed by the soft tangle of her hair. He didn’t want to disturb her. Rising carefully, he dressed and stepped out into the hallway. The house was still and calm. He passed Lily’s room, peeking in to find her sprawled across her bed.Her small snores made him smile. In the living room Thomas sat on the couch savoring the quiet place.These moments had become precious to him, a time to breathe before the day unfolded. Something caught his eye: a picture of three figures standing under a tree, holding hands. A sun and a smiling cloud hovered above them. At the bottom, in wobbly letters, she had written, “My family”. Thomas picked up the drawing, his chest tightening with emotion. This simple piece of art felt like a reflection of everything they’d built together. “Daddy?” Lily’s voi
Thomas stood by the window in the living room, watching the sun climb higher into the sky. The light danced on the glass, and for a moment, he felt a calmness settle deep inside him. Emma appeared, carrying pancake. She handed one to him and leaned against the window frame, gazing outside. “It’s a beautiful day,” she said, her voice gentle. Thomas nodded, taking a sip. “It is. Feels like a good day for something simple.” Emma glanced at him, her lips curving into a soft smile. “Something simple? What did you have in mind?” “Nothing planned,” he admitted. “Maybe just letting the day unfold, spending it with you and Lily.” Emma tilted her head thoughtfully. “I like that idea.” From the hallway, Lily’s voice called out, breaking the quiet. “Mommy, Daddy! Can we have pancakes for breakfast?” Emma chuckled, pushing off the window frame. “Guess that’s how we’ll start.” Thomas followed her to the kitchen, where Lily was already dragging a chair to the counter. Her hair was
The air in the house was soft and warm, filled with the quiet hum of everyday life. Thomas sat in his study, the faint scratching of his pen on paper the only sound breaking the stillness. He wasn’t working on contracts or plans tonight. Instead, he was writing a letter a habit he’d taken up recently. There was something grounding about the simplicity of writing by hand, capturing thoughts with ink. He leaned back, reading over the lines. The words felt honest, reflecting the steady gratitude he’d grown to carry each day. Folding the letter, he tucked it into his notebook and set it aside. The clock on the wall showed it was nearing Lily’s bedtime. Thomas rose, stretching as he made his way to the living room. Emma was curled up on the couch, a book in her hands. Her hair was pulled back loosely, and she looked up with a smile when he walked in. “Finished your writing?” she asked, closing her book. Thomas nodded, settling beside her. “For now. How’s your story coming along?”
The days that followed were calm, a welcome change from the whirlwind Thomas and his family had endured. The quiet felt foreign at first, as if the tension of recent weeks still lingered in the air. Yet, with each passing day, Thomas allowed himself to lean into the stillness. Morning sunlight spilled through the office windows as Thomas sat at his desk, a steaming cup of hot coffee in hand. His schedule was mercifully light, leaving him with time to catch up on work that had been neglected. Greg knocked softly before stepping inside. “Morning, Thomas. Thought I’d check in.” Thomas gestured for him to sit. “Morning. Everything good on your end?” Greg nodded, handing over a file. “Security reports, just routine checks. No issues to note.” Thomas flipped through the pages, scanning the concise updates. He closed the file and set it aside. “Thanks, Greg. Let’s keep the protocols steady for now, but I think we can start scaling back gradually.” “Will do,” Greg said, standing
The days rolled on, quieter now, yet Thomas couldn't shake the feeling that peace was fragile. Isabella’s note replayed in his mind, each word sharp and deliberate. Her sudden retreat didn’t sit well, but he wanted to believe it was genuine. That morning, the office buzzed with routine energy, a stark contrast to the tension that had dominated in recent weeks. Thomas stood by the window, the city stretched out before him. His reflection in the glass mirrored his unease. “Thomas,” Greg’s voice broke through his thoughts. “You’ve got a moment?” Turning, Thomas waved him in. Greg carried a file, his expression unreadable. “Still nothing from Isabella,” Greg began, setting the file on the desk. “But there’s a small issue we need to discuss. It’s probably unrelated, but I’d rather not dismiss it outright.” Thomas frowned, flipping open the file. Inside were photographs of security footage of a woman entering a building downtown. Her face was obscured by shadows, but the resemblan
The next few days passed without any sign of Isabella, and for the first time in a while, Thomas allowed himself a moment to breathe. He had taken every precaution, ensuring that his family and company were protected. Security was on high alert, and the team had strict instructions to report any unusual activity. Thomas sat in his office, reviewing reports, when Greg walked in with an update. “Morning, Thomas,” Greg said, holding a small envelope. “This just came in for you.” Thomas frowned, taking the envelope. It was plain, with no return address. He opened it carefully, pulling out a handwritten note. The message was brief: I’ve decided to leave. You’ve made yourself clear. Best of luck to you and your family. It was signed simply, Isabella.Thomas stared at the note, his jaw tightening. He handed it to Greg, who read it quickly. “Do you think she means it?” Greg asked. Thomas leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers on the desk. “It’s hard to say. Isabella’s un
Thomas sat in his car outside the office for a moment before heading inside. His encounter with Isabella had left him rattled, and the tension in his chest hadn't eased. He clenched the steering wheel tightly, replaying their conversation in his mind. There was something off about her, something unsettling. After taking a deep breath, he stepped out of the car and made his way to the office. The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the building as he entered. The usual hum of activity greeted him, but it felt distant, muffled by the weight of his thoughts. Greg was waiting for him near his office. “She left, but I doubt it’s the last we’ll see of her,” Greg said grimly. Thomas nodded. “We need to keep an eye on this. Let security know she’s not allowed in without my approval.” “Understood,” Greg replied. “Do you think she’s after something specific?” Thomas frowned. “It’s too soon to tell, but I don’t trust her motives. Make sure the team knows to stay alert.” Gre
Thomas woke up early the next morning, the pale light of dawn spilling through the curtains. He lay still for a moment, staring at the ceiling, his mind heavy with thoughts about Isabella. The day before had stirred memories he’d long pushed away, but now they refused to leave him. Emma shifted beside him, still asleep, her breathing soft and even. He glanced over at her peaceful face and sighed quietly. He hated the idea of dragging her into something she hadn’t asked for, but there was no way around it.Slipping out of bed carefully, he made his way to the kitchen. The house was quiet as he put on the kettle, the faint hum of the appliance filling the space. He poured himself a cup of coffee and sat at the table, hands wrapped around the warm mug. His thoughts wandered back to Isabella. Why had she resurfaced? What did she want from his family or his company? It didn’t sit right. He had seen her kind before people who created trouble and disappeared, only to return when it suited th
Thomas sat at his desk, the soft hum of his office as background noise. The morning had been busy with meetings, and now the afternoon sun was filtering through the blinds, casting long shadows across the room. His fingers drummed lightly on the edge of his desk as he glanced over the contract in front of him. He had been reviewing the details all morning, ensuring everything was in order before signing. His phone rang, breaking his concentration. He reached for it and answered with his usual professional tone. “Hello, Thomas speaking.”“Hi, Thomas. It’s Greg. I’ve got an update on the contract deal,” Greg’s voice came through, sounding slightly rushed. Thomas sat up straighter. “Go ahead. What’s the news?”“Well, it looks like everything is good on our end,” Greg continued. “We’ve gone over the terms again, and it seems like they’re willing to move forward with the deal. Just waiting on the final signatures.”“Good to hear,” Thomas said, his mind already moving to the next steps.