Juniper opened her mouth to argue but paused, realizing the truth in her mother’s words, the irony settling over her like a familiar weight. “I guess it’s all I know as well. When I was little, he told me he could only teach me what he already knew and that there was money in the work, so I should learn it at a young age in case I ever needed it.”

“For me, being a primary examiner puts me in position to help those affected.”

The room fell into a comfortable silence, the crackling of the fireplace the only sound, the flames casting a warm glow that couldn’t quite chase away the chill seeping in from the old windows. Juniper’s gaze drifted once more to the family photos lining the walls… the captured moments of birthdays, holidays, simple afternoons in the backyard, each one a touchstone to a life that felt increasingly distant, like the fading embers of the fire.

She stood up, stretching her arms above her head, feeling the cozy warmth of the room envelop her, even as a restless energy thrummed beneath her skin. “Poppop is actually the main reason for my move. The work that he did in his life is more important than ever now, and I can use what I know to make a positive change in the world.”