The morning began not in the chaotic kitchen, but down at The Rusty Anchor, a breezy little café sitting right

The kitchen was quiet except for the soft hum of the refrigerator. Vesper sat at the table, one hand wrapped

Vesper was already in the kitchen, not with notebooks this time, but with a big calendar spread across the table.

The kitchen smelled like burnt toast and coffee that had been sitting too long. Vesper was already at the table,