Silence settled between us for a moment before he reached over and wrapped his fingers around mine.
“I’ll be in touch the whole time, okay?” he murmured. “And call me if anything comes up.”
I didn’t squeeze back. I just stared at our intertwined hands, while that familiar unease quietly tightened in my chest.
Not long after, we pulled up in front of his mother’s house. Adrian parked the car, and before he could even unbuckle, the front door swung open. Judy stood at the entrance, waving both hands like she’d been waiting by the window for the past ten minutes.
“There they are!” she called out.
The moment Adrian carried Haille out of the car, Judy gasped dramatically.
“Oh my goodness! Come here sweetheart!”
Haille wiggled in his arms, reaching toward her grandmother. “Gwanmaaa!”
Judy took her eagerly, pressing a kiss to her cheek. “Hi, my angel. Did you miss Granma?”
I stepped out of the car, smoothing down my shirt. Judy pulled me into a warm hug with her free arm.
“Elena, sweetheart, you look tired,” she said softly, pushing a strand of hair behind my ear. “You should let me take Haille for a full weekend sometime. You need rest.”
I smiled faintly. “I’m okay, Judy. Really.”
A familiar voice called from behind her. “Finally! I thought you guys got lost.”
Avery appeared at the doorway, hair tied up messily, as if she’d rushed down the stairs the moment she heard our car. The second she spotted Haille, her entire face lit up.
“HAILLE-BUG!” she squealed, already reaching for her.
Haille practically launched toward her. “Avewyyy!”
Avery laughed, bouncing her slightly. Then her gaze flicked to me. “You doing okay?” she asked, voice low enough that Judy wouldn’t hear.
I nodded once. “Yeah.”
She studied me for a second.
“Wait, I need to grab something from the car,” I said, already turning.
“I got it,” Adrian cut in before I could move.
He shot me a quick smile as he headed back out. A moment later, he returned with the lasagna in hand.
“Oh, I’ve missed your lasagna so much,” Judy said, eyes lighting up when she saw it.
“Her lasagna really is the best,” Adrian added.
Their praise made me smile. Ahead of us, Avery had already slipped inside with Haille bouncing on her hip. We followed them in. Adrian stayed close beside me, his hand steady on the small of my back as he guided me gently, carrying the lasagna with his other hand.
The moment the door opened fully, the familiar smells rushed out—roasted chicken, baked vegetables, and Judy’s cinnamon rolls fresh from the oven.
Adrian breathed in and grinned. “Smells amazing.”
I couldn’t help smiling. Of course it did. These were Judy’s staples—the comfort dishes Adrian grew up with.
Avery already setting Haille down in the living room where a pile of toys was already waiting for her.
“Toyssss!” Haille squealed.
