Nate finally got home just as the sun was beginning to set, casting an orange glow over the quiet neighborhood. His mother sat on the porch, a steaming cup of tea in her hands as she enjoyed the evening breeze. She looked up when she saw him, a gentle smile appearing on her face.
"You're back," she said.
"Yeah," Nate replied, stretching his arms. He then turned to Sera and Cleo, nodding toward his mom. "Go keep her company for a bit."
Cleo, still clutching her oversized teddy bear, eagerly jumped onto the porch, practically bouncing with excitement. "Mom! Guess what! We went to the football game, and then we got ice cream, and then we went to this place where you throw balls and try to win stuff! And then—"
Nate's mom laughed as Cleo continued rambling on, her voice animated with all the details of their outing. Meanwhile, Sera turned to Nate, her expression calm but her eyes filled with warmth. She simply gave him a small wave.
