Amanda had Lexx settled on her hip before Arianne finished her coffee, the handoff so practiced by now it barely needed words between them. Twenty-eight mornings into a routine none of them had asked for, and none of it had gotten any easier so much as familiar.
"Vincent's got the twins for the school run, and I've got this one until you're back." Amanda pressed a kiss to Lexx's temple before he could squirm free of it. "Aunt Estella's covering Friday's parent-teacher meeting too, in case this runs long. Go. We'll still be exactly here when you are."
Gilbert stood by the door already, keys in hand, a second folder tucked under one arm that hadn't been there yesterday. "Lucas confirmed the room an hour ago. Two visitor chairs and a third one by the door, exactly what I asked for."
"You didn't have to ask for anything extra."
