"Hey!" Stella answered, her voice a tired greeting.

"I heard from Tyros that Brandon's thinking of staying there for good," Flora stated, her voice urgent, cutting through Stella's weariness.

Stella was speechless, the information hitting her with the force of a physical blow. "Are you sure?" She finally managed to ask, her voice barely a whisper.

The words were barely out when the distinct sound of a car pulling up outside interrupted the conversation.

Stella closed her laptop with a ...