Anne stood at the kitchen counter, carefully packing Ryan's lunch for school while he sat at the table, swinging his legs and chatting animatedly about his upcoming field trip. The morning sunlight streamed through the windows, casting a warm, golden glow over the room, and Anne felt a rare sense of peace. Things had finally started to settle down between her and Damien, and for the first time in weeks, she felt like they were moving forward, leaving the tension and uncertainty behind.
She glanced over at Ryan, who was now stuffing his backpack with a few of his favourite toys, and smiled. "You ready for school, buddy?" she asked, zipping up his lunch bag and handing it to him.
"Ready!" Ryan grinned, grabbing the bag and slinging it over his shoulder. "Nicky said she'd walk me to the school today."
