(Almira’s POV)
The restaurant smelled like melted cheese and grilled meat. Hazel and Asher sat across from me, eyes bright as they flipped through the kid’s menu. Their excitement was contagious, making me forget—just for a moment—the weight of everything we had just learned.
"What are you getting?" I asked, watching Asher drum his fingers against the table.
He grinned. "Burger. The biggest one."
Hazel sighed, glancing at him. "You always pick the biggest one."
"Because I can eat it."
Hazel rolled her eyes but smiled. She chose chicken tenders, her usual.
The waitress took our order and disappeared. Just as I was about to start a conversation, my phone rang.
Rich.
I glanced at the twins. They were chatting, completely at ease. "I’ll be right back, okay? Stay here."
They barely ac
