Franz returned home in the late afternoon, the autumn light slanting through the windows. The house had the particular hush it always held at this hour, the twins home from school, the day winding down, a household settling into its evening rhythms. He left his briefcase by the door and followed the sound of voices to the sitting room.
Lily was on the floor near the coffee table, her toy house spread out before her. She was rearranging the furniture with intense concentration. Petal sat nearby, propped against a cushion, watching the renovation.
Arianne was on the couch with Leo beside her. A children's book was open on her lap, the pages worn at the corners from repeated use. Leo was leaning against her shoulder, his dark eyes fixed on the words as Arianne pointed to each one in turn. His lips moved, shaping the sounds before he spoke them aloud.
"C-cat. Cat."
"Good. Try the next one."
"D-dog. Dog."
"Very good, Leo."
