*Rion*

“It’s time, Eva,” I told my sister as a fire crackled in the living room fireplace.

She lounged on the couch, reading, and I stood by the mantle, mesmerized by the flickering flames.

“I don’t know, Rion, the kids are still so young.”

I scoffed. “They’re teenagers now. Besides, we agreed that once the beach house construction was finished, we’d organize a vacation for the whole family there.”

I heard Eva sigh behind ...