MALIA’S POV

When Ella and Joan were finally tucked in, Lily and James joined us in the living room, followed by Zach. I wondered where they had gone off to. Mrs Henderson and Claire were present.

The mood had shifted from the lively energy of the dinner to a more relaxed, reflective atmosphere.

“Thank you for having us,” Lily said, her voice soft but sincere. “It’s been a wonderful evening.”

I smiled at her, feeling a deep sense of gratitude. “Thank you for coming. It means so much to have you here.”

James nodded in agreement. “It’s been great to see everyone together like this. We should do it more...