Arlene's POV
Nicholson was already awake and buzzing with energy when Shelly arrived that morning. We had settled into our usual breakfast routine, and I noticed how delighted Nicholson became when she spotted that she and Rockford were wearing nearly identical shades of blue. The two children dissolved into giggles over their accidental coordination, their laughter filling the dining room with warmth that almost made me forget about the tension crackling through the house.
