Juniper sighed softly, a hint of melancholy threading through her. “Maybe a little. Your Poppop once told me that the comfort zone wasn’t a place for someone who wanted to get what they wanted out of life.”

Jacob considered this, licking the sugar off his fingers thoughtfully. “Do you like it there?”

As they glided over the river, the tires whispering from quaint cobblestones to smooth asphalt. Towering marble replaced cozy brownstones, their columns casting long shadows across expansive boulevards.

“I don’t know yet, bud,” Juniper admitted, her gaze drifting to the horizon where the city skyline began to emerge. “I do miss all of you, though.”

“Then why don’t you come back?” he asked, his voice small.

“It’s complicated,” she said gently, reaching over to squeeze his hand. “But I visit as much as I can. It’s an easy express drive.”

Jacob nodded, accepting her answer for now. A comfortable silence settled between them.