Zephany looked at her mother, felt emotion threaten to surface. I don't get compliments. Christy studied her. You deserve them. And somebody is noticing. Zephany blinked, looked down.
The conversation shifted to life at HQ, to Levy, to food preferences. Christy teased about her boy picky, who could eat tomato soup only if it wasn't too tomato-ish. Zephany smiled, let the conversation flow. She relaxed into something real, something calm.
---
At HQ – Cassius and Sophia's Office
Cassius leaned in his high-backed leather chair with a sly grin. Sophia sat opposite, table between them, fingers tapping. The monitor showed the recorded footage of the fair and the kitchen. They watched the quiet hand hold, the shy smiles, the slow walk home.
