"I did not know when you would be back," Ariel said, laughing a little. "So we thought we would make something light. Maria is helping me."

"I'm happy to have helped," Maria filled in, moving about to get some plates. "I cook for this family all the time, but it's nice to have someone else in the kitchen for a change. It makes things seem more alive and gives me a chance to rest a bit."

Jayden smiled, feeling the small glow of satisfaction with that thought. There was something so very odd, in the best of ways, standing here at home in warmth and familiarity while Ariel and Maria...