Whenever Takoda interrupted, Dakota patiently answered her before continuing the story. When Cooper struggled to see an illustration, she tilted the book toward him, ensuring he could follow along without having to move too much.
Across the room, Kade settled onto the couch with his tablet. He had several reports to review and messages to answer, and although he had intended to use the time to catch up on the investigation, his attention kept drifting toward the bed.
Dakota was reading with one arm resting protectively around Cooper, while Takoda leaned against her and occasionally pointed at the pictures. The sight was so ordinary that it might have seemed insignificant to anyone else, but to Kade, it carried a weight he could not easily dismiss.
Only days earlier, he had been uncertain whether his son would survive. Now Cooper was sitting beside his mother, listening to her read, while his sister eagerly shared the moment with him.
