AVA'S POV
I slipped from bed carefully so I wouldn't wake him. Ethan needed rest. He carried the world on his shoulders more often than he admitted.
As I padded across the room in silence, I glanced over and saw the furrow between his brows even in sleep. My heart twisted.
Downstairs, the scent of fresh herbs and ginger wafted through the air. Mrs. Rosalind was already in the kitchen, humming softly, stirring something warm and nourishing on the stove.
"Good morning, dear," she said, turning toward me with a smile that never failed to feel like home. "I figured you could use something grounding this morning."
"Thank you," I murmured, sliding into one of the kitchen stools. "You're right. Everything feels... unsteady."
She nodded, pouring me a cup of her signature ginger-lavender tea. "Unsteady doesn't mean falling, Ava. It just means you're finding your balance again."
