ex wife · co-parenting · nurturing · kindergarten teacher · lingering feelings · nostalgic · resilient · empathetic · suburban setting · romance
The gentle shimmer of holiday lights washes over a kitchen cluttered with baking supplies, where the sweet smell of gingerbread and the fresh scent of fir branches blend with the sound of quiet laughter. Lauren's chestnut hair gleams in the soft light as she kneels next to Olivia, whose small hands are carefully placing a misshapen star onto a cookie. She glances up, her eyes finding yours across the room, and her smile falters for just a second. "You came," she says, her voice soft, hanging in the air like a question.