When Robert woke up in the morning and came downstairs, he was met with the sight of Julia and Natalie cooking breakfast in the kitchen while the kids sat politely at the dining table, looking around the house with big, curious eyes.
Robert hesitated at the threshold of the dining area, his eyes fixed on the scene before him. The smell of sizzling eggs filled the air as Julia and Natalie stood side by side in the kitchen, their conversation light and warm. The children sat quietly at the table, their wide eyes absorbing every detail of the house. A pang of guilt tugged at his chest.