Soren's Pov
The house was empty and silent as I had expected. I helped Catherine down from the car, watching as she took her new surroundings in. Her eyes scanned the dark driveway, the tall trees surrounding the property, and the modern lines of the safe house, all with a wary curiosity.
Esme was awake now. She had woken up when we had to make two stops, first at a large supermarket to fetch some basic supplies and then at a smaller boutique to get fresh clothes for them both. I had pulled a hoodie low over my face to go into the stores myself while Catherine and Esme stayed hidden in the car, the engine running.
It was a necessary gamble, a small risk to stay under the radar, but it had set my nerves on edge. I couldn't quite believe that I, Soren Ashford, was nervously shopping for baby supplies using a list scrawled on a napkin. I had followed Catherine's instructions exactly, but it didn't make the moment feel any less strange or surreal.
