was four now, bright, observant, and always listening more closely than adults realized.
She insisted on helping set the table, and Claire quietly fixed every mistake without mentioning it.
When the doorbell rang, Ari ran to answer.
Mom scooped her into a hug.
Dad walked in with flowers.
My sister inhaled dramatically.
“If dinner tastes half as good as this house smells, I’m moving in.”
Laughter filled the room.
My sister convinced Ari that peas were tiny planets, and soon they were launching vegetables across the table with exaggerated “whoosh”
