Rolling up his shirt sleeves, Kris Cooper grabbed his phone nonchalantly, reaching out to hold her hand.
"Let's go. Home!"
Those four simple words filled Vera Wave's chest with an overwhelming sense of joy. Home. What an endearing term.
Hand in hand, they headed downstairs. Kris settled her in the passenger seat and carefully fastened her seatbelt. Then, he returned to the driver's seat, started the car, and drove home.
While driving, he occasionally turned to look at her. Each time he did, he found her large, clear eyes fixated on him, filled with the joy of having him back.
When they arrived at the Cooper family's residential complex and the car came to a stop, Vera surprisingly felt a bit of nervousness, akin to bashfulness upon returning home.
"Will Mom, Dad, and Grandpa... be mad at me?"
"No, they won't. If anyone's mad at you, they'll have to deal with me."
"No!" Vera grabbed his wrist. "If they're upset, you're not allowed to say anything. I...I'll apologize."
