Thea stepped inside the Thompson house, the door clicking softly shut behind her. The familiar space felt different today—quieter, more intimate, almost like it was holding its breath.
Her eyes moved slowly across the room, searching instinctively for Ryder… or at least a sign of him. But the house, usually pulsing with life, felt still.
Then a voice—warm, graceful—broke the silence behind her.
"Thea, welcome. Please—come sit."
She turned to see Elizabeth approaching, wrapped in a calm grace that made the room feel less empty. Her smile was genuine, and it tugged something loose in Thea's chest. She returned it, slowly, and moved to sink into the cushions of the couch, absorbing the comfort.
"I hope I didn't barge in," Thea said softly, glancing toward the hall as if Ryder might appear any moment—disheveled and out of breath from running to greet her.
"Not at all," Elizabeth said, settling beside her with the easy familiarity of someone who'd grown used to her presence.
