Jacob~
As Natalie and I stepped through the door, the warm scent of cinnamon and honey hit us like a gentle embrace. The soft crackle of the fireplace echoed from the living room, and somewhere in the back, I heard the faint clatter of dishes—Fox, probably testing out that "quiet cooking" spell he'd insisted was foolproof. Spoiler: it wasn't.
Just as I was about to ask Natalie if she smelled the burnt marshmallows too, a pair of tiny feet skidded across the shiny marble floors.
"Mommy Natalie!" Alex's voice rang out like a bell as he rounded the corner, holding a pencil in one hand and a crumpled worksheet in the other. His oversized sweater nearly swallowed him whole, sleeves flapping as he charged at Natalie like a tiny warrior on a mission.
Natalie beamed instantly, eyes lighting up with that soft, fierce love she always had for him. "Hey, my little genius! What's this?"
