The car pulled into the drive just as the evening light began to soften toward dusk.
Franz stepped out before the engine had fully died. He'd been in the car for hours — the remote shoot had wrapped late, and he'd driven straight from the location instead of waiting for morning. His bag was in the backseat. His hair was longer than it had been when he left, falling across his forehead. He hadn't stopped to cut it. He hadn't stopped for anything.
The front door opened before he reached it.
Lily burst through first, her shoes slapping against the stone, her hair streaming behind her. She launched herself at him without slowing down, and he caught her mid-stride, swinging her up into his arms.
"You're back, you're back, you're back—"
"I'm back."
"You were gone so long. We crossed off all the days on the calendar. Every single one. Leo did the last one this morning. He said it was his turn."
