His skin looked even healthier than in the portrait-real, warm, human in a way the photo couldn't capture."Can I come in?"

I sat up slowly, pulling the blanket around me. "It's not my room to say no."

He entered and settled into the armchair by the window. Moments later, Iris bounced in and climbed onto his lap, oblivious to the tension crackling in the air.

"You slept well?"

"Fine."

"The room is comfortable?"

"It's fine."

Iris tugged on his sleeve. "Daddy, Natasha told me we're going to ...