When Alex and Danny walked into the dining room, the table was already brimming with the kind of hearty, unpretentious spread that Linda had perfected over decades.
Steaming platters of fluffy scrambled eggs, crisp bacon, buttered toast, and a warm ceramic dish of freshly baked apple cinnamon rolls filled the room with a rich, comforting aroma.
Victoria was already seated near the middle of the table, though she had very little choice in the matter, as Nina had firmly occupied the chair directly to her right, pressing close enough that their shoulders nearly brushed.
Seeing the two of them step in from the hallway, Linda looked up from setting down a pitcher of freshly squeezed juice and motioned toward the table with an affectionate wave of her hand.
"There you two are," Linda said warmly, smoothing down her apron. "Stop lingering by the doorway like strangers and sit down. Everything is hot and ready, and we were just waiting on you boys."
