Chapter 22

• The morning began with laughter.
• Theo had insisted on making pancakes "all by himself," which meant flour on the counter, batter on the floor, and Alexander supervising with a barely concealed smile.
• Danielle stood at the doorway, arms crossed as she watched father and son work. Theo’s sleeves were rolled up, his face scrunched in concentration as he tried to flip a pancake that was clearly too big for him while standing on a stool.