"Leo?"
Isabella's soft voice broke through my thoughts.
I blinked, snapping my head back toward her. She had stopped walking, staring at me with a deeply worried expression. Before I could say anything, she reached up, her cool, gentle hand resting against my cheek.
"You look so pale suddenly," she murmured, her thumb brushing softly beneath my eye. "Are you in pain? Did you push yourself too hard today?"
I stared into her eyes, feeling the genuine, pure warmth in her touch. For a split second, my throat felt tight, but I forced a small, tired smile onto my face and took a small step back to let her hand drop.
"I'm fine, Mom," I said softly. "Just... a long shift. Standing over a hot stove for hours takes it out of you."
Isabella let out a soft sigh, shaking her head with a gentle, fond look. "You kids... Seriously, you and Sylvia never get tired of making this old woman worry."
"You aren't old, Mom," I muttered, looking away. "You still look like you're in your twenties."
