Ellen, Ronald, and Colleen were sitting in the cozy living room after dinner. Ellen sat on the couch, her legs tucked beneath her as she sipped from a cup of tea, enjoying the comfort of being home, though a part of her still felt slightly restless.
Ronald sat across from her in his favorite armchair, a knowing smile playing on his lips. Colleen, meanwhile, sat behind Ellen on the floor, leaning back against the couch while she flipped through a magazine.
Ronald cleared his throat, causing Ellen to glance up at him, meeting his eyes. There was something about his expression that immediately made her feel wary. He smiled warmly, but Ellen knew that smile all too well—it meant her father was about to pry into her life.
"So," Ronald began, clasping his hands together over his stomach, "how about you and Mason?"
Ellen blinked, then frowned slightly. "What about us?" she asked, unsure where this was going. "We're fine."
