The late afternoon sun stretched long and golden over the quiet road, painting the city in soft amber light. Timothy's delighted laughter filled the back seat as he clutched his half-eaten cone of ice cream, his little legs swinging back and forth.
Jake glanced at him through the rearview mirror, lips curving into a faint smile. "You're making more of a mess than you're eating, champ."
Timothy looked up, grinning with chocolate smeared around his mouth. "It's melting too fast!"
Bella chuckled beside him, turning slightly in her seat. "Because you keep talking instead of eating. Here—" she reached for a napkin and gently wiped his chin.
Jake's soft laugh joined hers. "Now he looks like a proper gentleman again."
Timothy beamed proudly, holding his cone high as if he'd won a medal. "I'm trying my best."
Bella laughed again, shaking her head. "You sound just like me when I'm trying to explain something to Rachel or vice versa."
