As the evening wore on, the warm glow of conversation filled the room. Nate found himself thoroughly enjoying the chance to catch up with his family, the worries of recent weeks fading into the background. His parents regaled Gwen with embarrassing stories from his childhood, while Sam chatted animatedly with Kristoff and Annabelle about the improvements she's made to the village's farms.
"Remember when Nate tried to catch fireflies in a jar?" his mother said, eyes twinkling. "He was so determined to make a nightlight for his room."
Gwen leaned in, intrigued. "What happened?"
"He left the lid off," his father chuckled. "Woke up to a room full of fireflies. Took us days to get them all out!"
As laughter filled the air, Nate felt a mix of embarrassment and nostalgia. It was nice getting to spend time with his family.
