Dr. Evelyn Cross stood on their porch looking exactly like Beatrice's sketch—sharp features, dark hair pulled into a neat bun, professional blazer that screamed "I have credentials."
But her eyes were different than Samantha expected. Not cold. Not clinical.
Tired.
"Dr. Cross," Samantha said evenly. "Thank you for coming."
"Thank you for the invitation." Evelyn's smile was small but genuine. "And please, call me Evelyn. I suspect formality won't survive the next two hours anyway."
Behind Samantha, someone—definitely Kai—snorted.
Samantha stepped aside, gesturing Evelyn into their beautifully chaotic home. "Welcome to the madness. Try not to get phased through."
Evelyn paused in the entryway, taking in the scene with the focused attention of someone cataloging details for later analysis.
