Franz thought that calling Arianne every morning would be enough to assure the twins that she would return. There were only two days left, and she had already told them she would be home on schedule.
When Lily came down alone for breakfast without her younger twin, Franz knew something was wrong.
There was no crying. No pleading. No waiting on the stairs.
Leo simply wasn't there.
"Uncle, he's sitting outside her door again," Lily said quietly. "He won't listen to me this time."
Franz exchanged a look with Aunt Estella, but neither of them stood immediately.
"Go talk to him," Aunt Estella said gently. "He must be missing Aria. I'll stay with Lily."
Franz thanked her and went upstairs.
He climbed the stairs slowly. This was different from the stairs. The door meant something—her room, her smell, the clothes she'd left behind. Leo wasn't waiting for her to appear. He was waiting where she'd last been.
