"I'll take Cora to school next week," Elara said, wiping Coco's milk-stained chin with a napkin.
Coco beamed up at her. "Really? You promise?"
Elara nodded. "I promise."
"Yay!" Coco bounced in her seat. "Can we get donuts on the way?"
"We'll see," Elara smiled, tucking a strand of hair behind her daughter's ear.
Eleanor, sitting across the breakfast table, looked up from her newspaper. "That's lovely, dear. And who's driving Ethan to school today?"
"I am," Elara replied, checking her watch.
As if on cue, Ethan Thorne, Damien's fifteen-year-old cousin, strolled into the kitchen. His school uniform was impeccably pressed, but his tie hung loose around his neck.
"Morning, everyone," he greeted, grabbing an apple from the fruit bowl.
Elara stood, smoothing down her navy pencil skirt. "Ready to go, Ethan?"
"Just about," he replied, struggling with his tie.
Elara approached him, gently batting his hands away. "Here, let me."