She woke to the smell of pancakes and the sound of Lily arguing with someone about something.
His side of the pillow was cold — he'd been up a while. She lay there with her hand on it. Got up.
The kitchen was warm and flour-dusted. Franz at the stove. Lily arranging plates with the authority of someone running a catering operation. Leo setting napkins at each seat with careful attention.
Lily saw her first. "Auntie Aria! Uncle Franz is making pancakes. He puts chocolate chips in if you ask nicely."
She held up her plate as evidence.
"I asked nicely. Leo typed nicely."
Franz glanced at her over his shoulder. Not a question. A check. She went to the coffee maker.
After breakfast, Franz said he had a surprise.
Mrs. Halvorsen's nephew ran a dogsled outfit forty minutes into the pines. Franz had arranged it the afternoon before while Arianne was in the bakery.
