The warm afternoon light filtered through the windows as Aaron picked up his phone, dialing his older brother Nicholas to talk about Silas.
"Hey Nicholas, Silas's birthday is coming up in about a month," Aaron said, leaning back on his sofa.
"Oh, wow, time flies," Nicholas replied from his own living room. "He's going to be celebrating with his family this time." Nicholas said with a guess.
"Yeah, absolutely," Aaron said. "The whole family is going to be there to make it special for him."
"That's how it should be," Nicholas smiled, shaking his head. "Remember that year we tried to surprise him with that disastrous homemade cake that collapsed? Honestly, our family has had some wild moments, but we always pull through for each other."
"Right? Good family is everything," Aaron laughed. "We'll definitely have to hop on a group call with him on the day."
Miles away in Catelyn's parlor, the quiet afternoon was punctuated only by the ticking of a clock. Catelyn lay resting on the couch, her legs curled up comfortably. Idly, she reached for her phone and pulled up the calendar app, scrolling forward. Her eyes landed on the date: early next month. Silas's birthday was in a month.
She paused, a heavy feeling settling in her chest as she wondered how he would celebrate now that they were apart. She knew he would be hurting with the fact that she wasn't going to be there. They had a tradition—always celebrating each other's birthdays, never missing a single one, always being there for each other through every milestone. Now, things were different. She let out a soft sigh, deciding to just sit with the thought for a while, let herself relax, and plan to call Silas to talk to him when the day actually arrived. Needing a distraction, she swiped out of her calendar and opened her social media feeds, scrolling through to pass the time.
In Lauren's office at Crescent, the steady click-clack of keys filled the room. Jane sat on the couch, her eyes fixed on the laptop screen as she typed away.
Lauren looked up from her desk. "We are to travel for an important meeting in Switzerland, and you would be coming, Jane. You should prepare for the trip."
Jane blinked, looking up in surprise. "Switzerland?"
"And we are going to be there for more than a week, so pack up well and be prepared," Lauren continued, her expression focused. "Regan Rox invited us for an important collaboration with his editorial company, The Most. It's a major gathering, and we are expected to be there. A lot of influential business people are going to be in attendance, so it's best we make the most of what we've got."
A thrill of excitement mixed with professionalism ran through Jane. "Yes, Lauren," she said, a small smile playing on her lips.
Though she was pleased about the trip—knowing it was a golden opportunity to grow their product and network with heavy hitters—she wasn't entirely rattled. This wasn't her first rodeo; she had traveled with Lauren before. She quickly mentally cataloged her packing list, determined to be ready.
As evening settled over the Hoxton apartment, the kitchen filled with the rich, savory aroma of cooking. Elsa stood by the stove, humming a cheerful tune as she put the finishing touches on a delicious meal. In the parlor, Lucy sat comfortably on the couch, scrolling through her phone and watching a video. When Lucy had offered to help earlier, Elsa had waved her off, insisting she take a break.
Soon, the dining table was set. In the center sat a chilled pitcher of water, matching cups, and a crisp, fresh salad. Flanking them were plates of savory chicken stew and a steaming batch of pasta smothered in rich sauce.
Elsa and Lucy took their seats, diving into the food. Lucy took a bite of her pasta and chicken stew, her eyes widening in delight. "This tastes divine."
Elsa smiled, holding her fork as she dug into her own pasta and sauce. "Glad you like it, chef's magic."
As they ate, the conversation drifted into lighter territory.
"You know," Lucy said between bites, pointing her fork at Elsa, "if we ever got trapped on a deserted island, I'm fully convinced your first priority would be rating the island's local flora based on its salad potential."
Elsa burst out laughing. "Excuse me! Survival requires proper nutrients. And honestly, I'd be more concerned about whether you'd try to use your phone's flashlight to signal a cruise ship while simultaneously complaining about the lack of Wi-Fi."
"Hey, a girl has priorities," Lucy grinned. "Though speaking of Wi-Fi, if a raccoon ever stole my phone, I'm pretty sure I'd try to negotiate a ransom with it using leftover pasta."
"Only you would attempt diplomacy with urban wildlife," Elsa shook her head, laughing as they continued enjoying their evening meal together.