The soft hum of the chandelier above cast golden shadows across the elegant dining table as Ruby, Stefan, and Rayna sat down to enjoy their breakfast together.
The air smelled of buttered toast, grilled sausages, warm croissants, and a fresh fruit platter laid out neatly before them.
Ruby's place, in particular, had been curated with special care—no eggs anywhere in sight. Stefan had remembered. After her morning sickness episode the previous day, he made sure never to include anything that might trigger her queasiness.
Ruby picked up a croissant and nibbled at it slowly, occasionally stealing glances at Rayna who was humming as she poured herself some tea.
"So," Ruby began with a smile, "how was your flight?" she asked, not because she was curious about it—what exciting thing could happen during a flight—but because she just wanted to talk to Rayna and listen to her talk.
