Catherine's Pov
I was tempted to answer the phone, my fingers hovering over the screen, but it stopped ringing just as I picked it up from the cabinet. The sudden silence felt heavy. A moment later, Soren walked back into the room with Esme in his arms. She was calmer now, her earlier cries completely soothed, and she was watching him as always with a small, curious smile.
"She just needed a diaper change," he explained softly, "and of course, she's hungry..." He stopped mid-sentence when the phone started buzzing again, the sound sharp and insistent in the quiet room. It alerted me too, pulling my attention back.
I handed the phone to him and took Esme from his arms, watching his expression shift from relaxed to confused in an instant. But he quickly pulled it together, offering me one tight, reassuring smile. "I'll be back soon," he said, his voice low.
