[The Carter Residence]
The clink of cutlery and the faint aroma of coffee filled the dining room.
Evelyn sat at the breakfast table, stirring sugar into her cup while half-listening to the sound of her father flipping through the morning newspaper.
Gregory Carter was a man of quiet routine, coffee at nine, business calls at ten and unsolicited life advice scattered somewhere in between.
"Evelyn," he said suddenly, lowering the paper, "when are you planning on returning to work?"
The question caught her mid-sip. She blinked and set the cup down carefully. "I haven't decided yet," she admitted. "Mr. Lopez said I could take as much time as I needed after everything."
Gregory's expression softened but his tone carried that steady practicality of a man who raised his daughter to face storms and not hide from them. "Too much time off isn't good for the mind. You need rhythm, Evie and a reason to get out of the house besides buying cooking ingredients for your mother."
