Attached was a handwritten note.
For the little ones I may never meet. May they inherit courage before money, kindness before power, and parents wise enough to choose love even when pride is easier.
Megan pressed her fingers to her lips.
Rowan folded the paper carefully.
Across the room, Lily struck the xylophone so hard everyone jumped.
Noah startled awake and began to cry.
Ellis, offended by the interruption to his nap, joined him.
For one chaotic minute, the cottage erupted.
Megan scooped up Noah. Rowan lifted Ellis. Abigail steadied the xylophone before Lily could use it as a weapon against silence. Mrs. Alvarez laughed so hard she had to sit down.
And in the middle of it all, Rowan looked at Megan.
She was swaying with Noah against her shoulder, hair loose, eyes tired and bright. Lily clung to her skirt. Ellis drooled onto Rowan’s shirt. The house was loud, imperfect, overflowing.
