It was summer, and Joanne was in the kitchen, preparing lemonade for the children. The house buzzed with life, filled with laughter, squeals, and the occasional chaos that came with a home full of kids. Jeffrey's efforts had certainly paid off—they now had five children, the youngest a boy too.
Unfortunately for Joanne, no amount of wishful thinking could override their genes. Each child was a different shade of redhead, from fiery copper to soft strawberry blonde. Even little Frederick, just over a year old, had a crown of ginger curls and a temper to match.
She had built the house of her dreams on the meadow where the old pond used to be. Sprawling over an acre, the McMansion reflected her every aesthetic desire, with touches of Jeffrey's input woven in thoughtfully. Their bedroom was her favorite—designed so that they could wake each morning to the view of the old oak trees, standing like sentinels beyond the balcony.
