The Rochefort estate was bright with afternoon sunlight when they arrived. The gardens were beginning to show the first signs of spring—green shoots pushing through the soil, buds forming on the hedges. Vincent and Amanda's home was grander than their own, more formal, but it held the same quiet warmth.
The twins were surprised to see Arianne. Usually, only one of them came to pick them up. Leo's face lit up when he saw her—not quite a smile, but something close. He crossed the foyer and took her hand without speaking, his small fingers wrapping around hers.
Lily was already talking. "Mommy Aria! You came! We made sandwiches this morning and Leo put too much jam on his but Grandma Amanda said it was fine because jam is a fruit and fruit is healthy. Then we fed the koi fish and Leo drew them and Grandpa Vincent let us sit in his study while he worked and Grandma Amanda read us a story about constellations. We learned about Orion. He's a hunter. He has a belt made of stars."
