The first rays of sunlight filtered through the floor-to-ceiling windows, painting golden streaks across the bedroom.
Adeline stirred.
For a moment, she simply lay there, listening.
Silence.
No alarm clock.
No ringing mobile.
No deadline demanding her attention.
Just the rhythmic sound of someone breathing beside her.
A smile spread across her lips.
She turned her head.
Dwayne was still asleep.
His dark hair had fallen over his forehead, softening the sharp features that usually made him look intimidating in the boardroom.
She couldn't help but smile.
"So this is what my husband looks like when he's not pretending to be important."
"You know I can hear you, right?"
His eyes remained closed.
Adeline gasped dramatically.
"So you've been awake?"
"For at least five minutes."
"And you let me embarrass myself?"
"I was enjoying it."
She reached for a pillow and lightly smacked him across the face.
He laughed, catching it before she could pull it away.
"Oh, so violence on the first morning?"
"You deserved it."
"I absolutely did."
He pulled her gently toward him.
For a while, neither of them spoke.
The room felt peaceful.
Safe.
It was everything Adeline had ever dreamed of.
Dwayne leaned in and kissed her before drawing the blanket over their heads
...
An hour later, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee drifted through the Davies estate.
Adeline followed the scent into the kitchen.
She stopped in the doorway.
Jarvis stood at the cooker, wearing a dark hoodie and an apron that read:
KING OF BREAKFAST.
She burst into laughter.
He looked over his shoulder.
"I was wondering how long it'd take before someone mocked my apron."
"I'm not mocking it."
"No?"
"I'm judging it."
"Ouch."
He pressed a hand dramatically to his chest.
"I thought we'd become friends."
"We have."
"That was quick."
"You make excellent coffee."
"So I'm useful?"
"You said it, not me."
Jarvis shook his head with an exaggerated sigh.
"My own sister-in-law using me for caffeine."
"Sister-in-law?"
She smiled.
"I quite like the sound of that."
Something flickered across Jarvis's face.
Only for a second.
Then it was gone.
"I'm glad," he said quietly.
"So am I."
Neither of them noticed Dwayne standing just outside the kitchen.
He watched them laugh together.
A small smile appeared on his lips.
Seeing the two people he loved most getting along should have filled him with relief.
Instead...
A strange unease settled in his chest.
He couldn't explain why.
...
Later that afternoon...
Rose arrived carrying two large shopping bags.
"I've come to rescue my little sister."
Adeline laughed.
"From what?"
Rose looked around the enormous estate.
"Rich people."
"I'm serious."
"So am I."
The sisters embraced.
"I brought everything you forgot at Mum's house."
Adeline peered into one of the bags.
"My favourite mug."
"I knew you'd miss it."
"My old slippers."
"You definitely would've missed those."
"And..."
Adeline froze.
A worn leather notebook rested at the bottom of the bag.
Her university journal.
"I didn't know Mum had kept this."
Rose smiled.
"She keeps everything."
Adeline ran her fingers across the faded cover.
"So many memories."
"You should read it sometime."
"Maybe."
She placed it carefully on the table.
Neither sister realised someone else had noticed it.
From the landing upstairs...
Dwayne stood perfectly still.
His eyes never left the notebook.
The colour slowly drained from his face.
He knew exactly which years it covered.
And he silently prayed one particular memory had never found its way onto those pages.
Outside, dark clouds gathered over the estate.
Inside...
The past had just found another way to return.