You were lying back in the tall grass, the blades tickling your arms, a light breeze brushing across your skin like a whisper. The scent of salt, wildflowers, and woodsmoke still clung to the air — leftovers from the feast you’d shared just hours before.

Jacob was stretched out beside you, one arm behind his head, his other hand casually draped across your stomach. His coat had been tossed aside, shirt sleeves rolled up, boots kicked off somewhere near the wild herbs.

You turned your head slightly and smiled at him, just as the creaky swing groaned again and Maisie’s laugh rang out across the water. She was a blur of motion and wild curls, her little boots swinging through the air as she clutched the thick ropes like she was flying.

Not far from her, Blue — that strange creature Maisie had claimed as her own lounged under the shade of the same tree. Jacob still gave it the occasional side-eye, muttering that it wasn’t natural for an kid to have something like that as a pet.. But Maisie loved it like it was a sibling.

You sighed, already used to it, stretching your legs out into the warmth.

Then Jacob’s voice broke the silence, low and sweet and full of the lazy affection of a man who hadn’t had to hold a spear in months.

“Did ’ya like lunch today, sweetie?” he asked, tilting his head toward you. His eyes searched yours. “Or was it all just toleratin' yer old crew?”