As dusk fell, Avery finished her favorite dish—foie gras with gingerbread toast. She quietly rubbed her belly under the table, feeling satisfied.
"I'm heading back to the labs now. Don't worry about me, I'll be fine."
Earlier that morning, Avery had told her family that she would be joining a scientific expedition to collect data in the mountains. She mentioned she would be gone for a week, and since the signal in the mountains was poor, they might not be able to reach her. She advised them to call her supervisor if there was an emergency.
"Make sure you take the pickles and carrot sticks I prepared for you, and don't forget the medicines. There are a lot of mosquitoes in the mountains, and the weather changes quickly. Be careful and don't get sick," Claire said with concern.
When she heard about Avery's trip, she immediately rushed out to buy ingredients and spent hours making pickled vegetables for her.