Samuel waved a hand slightly. “It’s just news. Don’t give it too much thought.”

The words were meant to calm the moment, but they landed poorly.

Sasha turned quiet in a different way now. Not reassured. Dismissed.

Nathan leaned back, no longer certain whether his question had been childish or important.

Nothing more was said, but the silence no longer felt peaceful.

Later, when the subject came up again, the earlier uncertainty had not been resolved. It had only been buried.

And buried doubts had a way of deepening roots.