The house didn't so much as whisper tonight. After dinner, after more conversations with the guys and Papa Khaos, after everything was said and done… everyone let out a long sigh of relief.
Even the house itself seemed to exhale after holding its breath for so long.
I would like to think that the house had been concerned about me, that when I had vanished for three days with Papa, it was worried about its creator. But I was pretty sure that it was more worried that its little genie was never coming back.
When I did come back, the house was more than willing to accommodate me. For once, the walls didn't shift. The rooms didn't rearrange. The air didn't carry wishes or warnings. There were no added doors where there had never been one.
Just warmth, like a peace offering.
