#Chapter 201: The Birthday

Agnes “Keep your eyes closed,” I warned Thea as Elijah and I guided her up the front steps of our newly rebuilt home. “No peeking.” “I’m not peeking,” Thea sighed, even though I could see her looking through her fingers clear as day. It was Thea’s eighth birthday, and also moving day. The house had been completed just in time, thanks to the tireless efforts of the construction crew who had worked around the clock to make it happen. Elijah and I had spent most of the previous day supervising the furniture delivery and making sure everything was absolutely perfect for today. “Okay,” Elijah said as we reached the front door. “On the count of three, you can open your eyes. One... two... three!” Thea’s eyes flew open, and she gasped as she took in the foyer of our new home. It was similar to the old one in layout, but we’d made some upgrades in the design—higher ceilings with exposed beams, a grand staircase with an intricate wrought iron railing, and large win