th in her absence. Familiar scents greeted her - dried lavender, old books, and cinnamon - traces of memory w

piced tea, the kind she used to make on cold mornings. They sat in comfortable sile

er voice small, "how everything looks

the rim of her mug. "That's

. And an unco

She imagined her younger self still out there, trailing fingers along t

see you," Mrs.

iffened around

ery

he door inte

th caught in

eady gait she always had. When it opened, the light sp

as N

ath his eyes deeper. His smile, hesitant and crooked, still h

hands into his jacket pock

osening from the mug, leaving beh

n't ex

errupted softly.

tween them - apologies never said, the way they had parted, the ve

stepping back. "I'll come by tomorrow

omething in his tone made h

t full of possibility and warning. Emily turned bac

d her, reading her thoughts again, "o

slow sip. "Le