The late afternoon sun dipped low in the sky, creating a pleasant warmth as Della busied herself in the kitchen. The chatter of birds filled the air through the screen door to the patio, blending harmoniously with the sound of children playing outside.
Today had been strange, and the anxiety over the encounter in the beach and the looming tension of the impending visit to Snow Moon made her feel like her sanity was being peeled away, like the layers on an onion.
Jax burst through the front door, his backpack bouncing against his back, happy as always. "Mom! I'm home!" he shouted, his voice echoing throughout the house. Then he clapped his hand over his mouth, "sorry, I forgot Lily is usually napping when I get home."
"Hey, big guy!" Della turned around with a welcoming smile, wiping her hands on a dish towel. "How was school today?"
