The savory aroma of simmering garlic and herbs filled the kitchen, making it feel even cozier than usual. Kris stood at the counter, her sleeves rolled up and her hair loosely tied back, focused on chopping vegetables with practiced ease. The kids were upstairs, their laughter occasionally drifting down the stairs as background noise. She smiled to herself, glad that Parker and Luca had bonded so well since their move back to Northknot. Kris nudged a bowl of chopped vegetables toward Ryann. "Want to stir the sauce while I finish this? I won’t make you do too much work," she teased with a playful smirk. "Promise." She had grown to enjoy these moments with Ryann; the easy conversation, the gentle companionship. There was something comforting about having her around, like an unspoken understanding between them. Ryann reminded her of herself in a way: young but already carrying more weight than most people her age should have to. That made Kris feel protective; like she needed to offer something, even if it was just a meal and some warmth. “How’s Luca doing with everything?" Kris asked, a touch of concern in her voice as she returned to dicing tomatoes. "He and Parker seem inseparable, which is nice. Makes this whole moving back thing a little easier for us." Her tone was light but there was always an undercurrent of careful observation when it came to Ryann. Kris had learned to read people well through years of practice. She could see the weight Ryann carried and wanted to make sure she wasn’t shouldering it all alone. As she moved around the kitchen, Kris found herself glancing over at Ryann, making sure she wasn’t lost in thought or feeling too overwhelmed. She’d noticed Ryann had a habit of retreating into herself sometimes and Kris was determined to keep things light; to make sure the younger woman knew she had someone to lean on. "You know, I've been thinking about having a spa day," she said, looking up at Ryann as a small smile formed on her lips. "You should join me... We could kick back, relax... maybe get some facials?" @hxrricvnes















