The clinking of spoons against ceramic filled the air, punctuated by the soft giggles of Maya and Nathan as they sat across from Leonard at the dining table. The morning light streamed through the small kitchen window, brushing soft gold along the edges of their faces and making Maya's ponytail shine like silk.
Leonard stirred his coffee slowly, not because it needed stirring, but because his mind wandered elsewhere—back to the night before.
Katherine had been in a mood. That much was obvious. She hadn't raised her voice or said anything rude, but the forced smile, the clipped tone, and the way she closed the door on his face without even a proper good night—it all sat heavy in his chest now.
Maybe I should've left after dropping off the food, he thought. She looked like she didn't want me there at all.
Still, she hadn't turned him away.
And now here he was, sitting with the twins while Katherine moved quietly around the kitchen behind them.
