~ Niamh ~
The transition from the restaurant to the mansion felt like being pulled out of a warm dream and shoved back into a cold reality.
Shauna and I walked through the front doors, the silence of the foyer a sharp contrast to the adrenaline still humming in my veins.
We didn't even stop to take off our jackets before we headed straight toward the living area, following the sound of laughter that was drifting through the air.
I found Hannah and Matteo huddled together on the sofa, the glow of the television lighting up their faces.
They were watching a comedy show, and my son was laughing so hard his little shoulders were shaking. I stood in the doorway for a moment, just watching him.
I wondered if he actually understood the jokes or if he was just mimicking Hannah's joy, finding comfort in her laughter.
It was a beautiful sight, but it was tinted with the shadow of why we had been rushed back home in the first place.
