As Caroline opened the door, Emily darted forward, a bright grin on her face. "Mom, I missed you!" she said, wrapping her arms around her mother's waist.
Caroline bent down, hugging her back. "I missed you too, honey. How was school?"
"It was good! I even had ice cream with Noah before we came home. It was so yummy!" Emily replied, bouncing with excitement.
Caroline chuckled, brushing a few strands of hair from Emily's face. "Well, I'm glad you enjoyed it. Now go wash your hands and change your clothes. We're going out today."
Emily's face lit up as she slipped out of her shoes and dashed down the hall, her footsteps echoing up the stairs.
Watching her, Noah glanced at his mom, a small smile tugging at his lips. "You ready for the interview, Mom?"
Caroline gave him a reassuring nod. "I am. I've been practising recipes all week, and I feel good about this."
"Good," Noah replied, nodding. "I'll go change too. We'll head out in a bit."
