“You’re a lifesaver, kiddo.”

Lillian watched the exchange with a tender smile, the love for her family shining in her eyes. “He takes his coffee-making very seriously, you know.”

“As he should,” Juniper said, taking a sip and letting the smooth flavor roll over her tongue, the warmth spreading through her like a balm, soothing the restless ache in her soul. “This is excellent as always.”

Jacob beamed, a smudge of coffee grounds somehow on his cheek, a badge of honor from his culinary adventures. “Aunt Juni, can we get the choctops at Pasteli?”

“Absolutely,” Juniper agreed, ruffling his hair affectionately, the simple joy of the moment a fleeting reprieve from the weight of her thoughts.

Lillian laughed, patting her stomach. “I may have inherited the family’s love for sweets, but unfortunately, I didn’t get the metabolism to match.”

Evelyn sighed, a playful envy in her voice. “I always marveled at how your grandmother could eat anything she wanted and still keep her figure. It’s just not fair! That’s why you’ll see me and my sister running down the street.”