“Kids are good at that,” he murmured. “They just get on with it.”
“Something we adults could learn from,” Eleanor commented, appearing beside them with plates in hand. She gave Estelle a gentle smile. “Leo tells me you’re new to Bear Creek. How are you finding it so far?”
Leo tensed slightly, ready to intervene if the questions became too personal, but Eleanor’s tone was casual, her question broad enough to be safe.
She’s being careful,his bear noted with approval.She understood what you told her.
Estelle seemed to recognize it too, her posture easing further as she answered. “It’s beautiful here. So peaceful. Adara loves all the trees and wildlife.”
“It’s a wonderful place for children,” Eleanor agreed, glancing toward the knot of children now clustered near the table. “They need room to explore, to work things out for themselves, to become who they’re meant to become.”
“Yes,” Estelle said, her voice catching on the emotion she was trying to hold in check. “That’s exactly what I want for her.”
“Okay, everyone, dig in,” Leo urged as they all found seats around the table.
The meal settled into the familiar rhythm of Thornberg gatherings, dishes passed, conversations overlapping, laughter punctuating the clatter of silverware. Leo kept a careful eye onEstelle, ready to step in if she needed it, but to his relief, she seemed to relax. Before long, she was deep in conversation with Kirk about hot chili sauce.
Then she looked up and watched as Adara charmed everyone at the table, and the expression on her face gave Leo a surge of hope. And gratitude toward his family. They had made her feel included.
Part of something.
Leo’s bear stirred with satisfaction.She’s seeing it now. How they could be allies, not threats.
I think so,Leo agreed.Just watch how she looks at Mom when she thinks no one’s paying attention.
It was true. When Eleanor was focused elsewhere, Estelle studied her with a wistful expression that made Leo’s chest ache. She was seeing something she had never had.
She’d never known what it was like to have family always there for her. Then she’d lost Maris, the one person she had truly connected with and depended on. After that, she had to fight for Adara against Julian’s family.
How different Estelle’s life might have been if she’d had family beside her through all of that.
She has now,Leo’s bear said.
Yes. She has,Leo replied.
“More pastry?” Hannah asked Adara, who nodded enthusiastically, chocolate already smeared across one cheek.
“Please! Fizz says they’re the best ever.”
“Fizz has excellent taste,” Hannah replied solemnly, placing another piece on her plate.
“Then can we go outside?” Percy asked, his eyes drifting to the back door.
“Can we go into the jungle?” Aria asked Leo.
“The greenhouse,” Lucy corrected at once. “It only looks like a jungle.”
“It does look like one,” Percy said. “Especially at the back.”
“Me too,” Adara said, stuffing the last of the pastry into her mouth. “Fizz wants to come as well. She likes the jungle.”
At that, Snuggles jumped down from his chair and wound around Adara’s legs, then Percy’s, as if he fully expected an invitation too.
That earned a laugh around the table and, more importantly, a real smile from Estelle.
“I’m not sure you should go alone,” Estelle said, though there was less worry in her voice than there had been earlier.
“We can all go,” Isla said, leaning toward her. “I want to steal some of Leo’s tomatoes for a pasta recipe I want to try.”
