That Evening...
"I am home," Esther called, her voice warm but faintly tired from the long day.
"Mommy!" Reggie's small voice rang out almost instantly. He came running toward her, socks sliding on the polished floor.
"Oh, my baby… Mommy missed you," she said, bending to lift him into her arms. She held him close, breathing in the familiar scent of his shampoo.
"Reggie missed Mommy too," he replied, his tiny arms wrapped snugly around her neck.
"Daddy missed Mommy too," Cyrus's deep voice chimed in from behind.
Esther turned to see him leaning against the doorway, his eyes glinting with playful mischief. She laughed, shaking her head at the father-and-son duo's antics.
"Alright, let me freshen up and come back," she said, placing Reggie gently on the floor.
When she returned, her steps slowed as she took in the scene. The dining table was already set, dishes steaming, the air rich with the scent of freshly cooked food.
