Sabrina's POV
Charlie finally stopped running and plopped down on a chair, his face flushed from excitement yet his eyes still sparkling. Resting his chin on his hand, he stared at the table with anticipation, as if awaiting a grand feast. Hazel smoothed his slightly messy hair, then went back inside briefly to fetch drinks.I arranged the spoons and forks on the table, making sure everything was ready. Something about this evening felt different—not just because of the food or the way the backyard looked, but because of how everyone played their part. Hazel with her calmness, Nicholas with his energy despite his long day, Charlie with his endless cheer, and me, feeling grateful to stand in the middle of it all.The last rays of sunlight slowly sank behind the neighbors’ rooftops. The sky was now nearly dark, leaving only a thin orange line on the horizon. The garden lights stood out more brightly, transforming the yard into a small dining space, separate from the outsiSabrina's POV I glanced briefly and watched the flow of traffic that wasn’t too crowded that morning. “Sounds good, not over the top. At least you already have a clear picture.” Hazel smiled faintly. “Lucky I have you. If I went alone, I might get lost in a décor store and come home with a life-sized horse statue.” I burst out laughing, until Hazel laughed along too. The calm atmosphere in the car suddenly felt lighter. We arrived at the first furniture store, a large building with wide glass panels at the front. As soon as we walked in, the scent of wood and new materials greeted us. Hazel looked like a child in a playground her eyes sparkled, her body almost moving on its own toward the row of wooden shelves neatly arranged on the right side. The moment we stepped inside, it was as if the world shifted. The vast room with high ceilings was filled with warm lighting that made every piece of furniture look more alive th
Sabrina's POV I stood in the kitchen, holding a warm cup of tea while gazing out the front yard through the window. The scent of damp earth mixed with the faint fragrance of wet wood drifted into my nose. Today was supposed to be an important day. Hazel had mentioned more than once about looking for items to complete her boutique. Wooden shelves, guest chairs, and a few decorations that would make the empty space come alive. I stood longer than I should have in front of the window, letting my eyes linger on the yard still damp from last night’s rain. Dew clung to the tips of the grass, faintly glimmering under the morning sunlight that pierced through thin clouds. It felt strange, how simple things like that could bring a little calm to the heart. I took a deep breath, letting the moist air fill my chest, as if I were preparing myself for the long day ahead. On the kitchen table, Hazel’s notes were scattered about. Scribbles of everything he
Sabrina's POV Charlie finally stopped running and plopped down on a chair, his face flushed from excitement yet his eyes still sparkling. Resting his chin on his hand, he stared at the table with anticipation, as if awaiting a grand feast. Hazel smoothed his slightly messy hair, then went back inside briefly to fetch drinks.I arranged the spoons and forks on the table, making sure everything was ready. Something about this evening felt different—not just because of the food or the way the backyard looked, but because of how everyone played their part. Hazel with her calmness, Nicholas with his energy despite his long day, Charlie with his endless cheer, and me, feeling grateful to stand in the middle of it all.The last rays of sunlight slowly sank behind the neighbors’ rooftops. The sky was now nearly dark, leaving only a thin orange line on the horizon. The garden lights stood out more brightly, transforming the yard into a small dining space, separate from the outsi
Sabrina's POV “Camping?” I repeated, emphasizing the word. “But going up the mountain might be a bit tricky. How about we make a little camping spot in the front yard instead? We can pitch a tent, set up lights, and make it feel just like the real thing.”“Wow! Mom, really?!” Charlie almost jumped in excitement. “Can we? We’ll pitch a tent, then eat dinner outside too? Just like being in the wild?”I nodded while ruffling his hair. “Of course you can. As long as we prepare everything first. And you have to promise to help Mom Hazel and Mom Sabrina, okay?”Charlie quickly raised his thumb. “Yes, Mom Sabrina!”Hazel laughed and patted his shoulder. “Alright then, let’s start preparing now. But before camping, we need to cook dinner first. Full stomachs make camping even more fun.”I nodded in agreement. Together, we headed to the kitchen to check the ingredients. Hazel opened the fridge while I arranged a few items on the counter. Charlie busied himself walkin
Sabrina's POV “Mom! Today I drew a big mountain and a huge sun! My teacher said it was really good, and I got a gold star on my paper!” he said quickly, still out of breath.Hazel chuckled softly as she adjusted his backpack. “Wow, a gold star? That means you really put your heart into the drawing. What did the mountain look like, Charlie?”Charlie waved his hand in the air, as if painting something invisible. “It was really big, Mom! Two mountains, and I put the sun in the middle so it looked like it was smiling. Oh, and I added a little tree, and some birds shaped like the letter V.”Walking beside them, I chimed in. “Birds shaped like V’s? That’s funny, Daddy used to draw birds like that too when I was your age.”Charlie turned quickly toward me, his eyes sparkling. “Really? Then I’m just like Daddy! But I made my clouds different. I drew them round, like cotton candy. My teacher said they looked cute, because the other kids only drew long lines for clouds.”
Sabrina's POV The midday sun had begun to shift, its rays filtering through the glass of the restaurant where we sat. I let out a relieved sigh after finishing lunch with Hazel. My stomach was full, and my heart felt warm. But I knew time kept moving. I glanced at the watch on my wrist, the long hand almost touching twelve.“Hazel,” I turned to her as she was still busy sipping her iced tea, “how about we pick up Charlie after this? Instead of going home first and heading out again, it’s better if we go straight to his school.”Hazel lifted her face, her eyes widening as if the thought hadn’t occurred to her. “Oh, that’s true. Good idea. Besides, Charlie will surely be happy if we both pick him up together.”I nodded with a smile. A warm feeling rose every time I imagined Charlie’s cheerful face. That child had a simple way of making everyone around him happy. Hazel seemed to agree; she immediately pulled out her phone to check the school’s dismissal time.“Ther