She ended the call with a bright laugh and called out to Tom. “Tom, go downstairs and help them. They’ve brought a ton of stuff.”
Tom nodded, setting down his cleaning cloth. “On it,” he said cheerfully, heading out the door.
***
By the time David and Anne arrived, I had just finished decorating the last window. I stepped down from the chair and turned to see my brother surveying the room, his lips curling into an approving smile.
“This family is lucky to have such a hardworking daughter,” he teased, walking over to me. “Not bad! I’m going to reward you today. Come on, guess what it is.”
I rolled my eyes playfully, trying to match his lighthearted energy. “A new Apple phone!”
David burst into laughter, reaching into his bag and pulling out a sleek new phone. He handed it to me with a grin, then ruffled my hair roughly. “Hey, where did you get so smart, huh? Did Tom and Sarah give you a secret potion or something?”
Lowering my gaze, I hid the swirl of emotions threatening to surface. “Smart? Must be genetic,” I murmured, my voice barely audible.