Arianne was alone in her study when she opened the last journal.
The house had gone dark and soundless. The twins had been asleep for hours, tucked into their shared bed with Petal and the whale between them. Lily had demanded an extra story before bed, which she had already heard four times but insisted was essential to her sleep routine. Leo had practiced his words before settling down, his voice low and careful as he said "goodnight" to Arianne, then to the baby in her belly. He had been speaking more and more as the weeks passed, each word a small victory.
