Dad studies me for a moment, then leans back in his chair.
His gaze turns a little more serious.
“You know, I was thinking… after this season, I might stay home for a while.”
My head snaps up. “Really?”
“Yeah. I think it’s time I take a break. Focus on family, on your mom, on you. You two have been patient long enough.”
My heart squeezes—in the good way.
“Dad, that would be amazing. Really.”
He smiles and traces the rim of his cup with a finger.
“I just need to sort out a couple of things with the team first, then we’ll see. I don’t want to promise too much, but… yes. I think it’s time.”
I press a hand to my chest, happy as a kid.
“Mom is going to be over the moon. Finally no endless trips, no more dinner over video calls…”
I trail off when a thought crosses my mind.
Isthatwhat they were whispering about the other morning?
And why didn’t Mom come today?
I push the thought away immediately.
There can’t be anything wrong between them. My parents are the picture of steady, comforting love.
They had me when they were really young, but they never split. They never gave up. They’ve always been proud of our little family. Even though Mom got pregnant at seventeen, they never once treated it like a mistake. And Dad has always worked hard to give us every comfort.
I take another sip of tea. It tastes sweeter than usual—maybe because of the emotion swelling in my chest.
That fleeting thought tries to sneak back in—there’s no trouble between them… right?
I shove it away again. Why is my brain like this?
Impossible. My parents are the perfect couple.
He’s the charismatic coach, she’s the elegant, sunny woman.
Solid, honest love—the kind that grows with time.
“Sloane?”
“Mh?”
“You’re already overthinking, aren’t you?” Dad asks, smiling.
“Me? No, I was just… thinking that we’ll finally get more time together.”
“And I can’t wait for that, sweetheart.”
He pours a little more tea into my cup and breaks a cookie in half for me.
And in that moment, with the scent of butter and bergamot in the air, the world feels perfect again.
