Caleb's POV
When I returned downstairs, chaos greeted me in the most wonderful way. Vanessa darted around the living room, giggling as Silas chased her in an elaborate game of tag. The little girl had clearly warmed up to the gentle giant. Meanwhile, Jace had Felix pinned to the floor, demonstrating escape techniques from a headlock while everyone else watched with amusement.
I made my way toward the kitchen to update Riley about her medical appointment. She stood at the sink with her back to me, already tackling the mountain of dishes from dinner. Moving to help, I began collecting plates from the table. When I picked up Riley's plate, my stomach dropped. The food remained virtually untouched, barely disturbed from when it was first served.
I forced myself to push down the growing concern as I scraped the remaining plates and packed leftovers into the refrigerator. After disposing of the waste, I carried the dirty dishes to Riley's side at the sink.
