Brittany's POV

Avery and Alexander hose off the boys while I rinse my muddy hands under the cool stream, the cold biting against my skin. The spray glistens in the sunlight, puddling around our feet, washing away the chaos of their wrestling match in slow spirals of murky brown. Avery disappears inside to grab towels, her laughter still echoing faintly behind the screen door. I linger beside Alexander on the porch, Theodore perched on his hip, Caleb giggling in the ...