A Year Later.
Lyse raised the baby up in the sky, laughing at his loud happy shrieks. The sunlight filtered through the leaves of the old oak tree, dappling her son's face. She brought him back to her chest and nuzzled into his neck, inhaling that sweet, milky baby scent.
"Mama loves you, my little Theo," she whispered, kissing the soft skin behind his ear.
A shadow fell over them. She looked up to find Levi standing there, a soft smile on his face. He'd been watching them from the porch, a mug of coffee in his hand. He looked different now. Softer. The hard edges had been smoothed away by a year of peace.
"He's got your lungs," Levi said, reaching out to tickle Theo's chin. The baby gurgled and grabbed at his father's finger with surprising strength.
"And your stubbornness," Lyse retorted, but her smile was warm. "He refused to nap for over an hour today."
