Rowan walked in first, holding a small spiral notebook open to a neat grid.

Her digital wristwatch beeped once as she reached the table.

“School starts in twenty minutes,” Rowan said, looking straight at her mother.

“June is still looking for her yellow sketchpad.”

Ellis followed behind his sister, carrying his wooden lunch box under one arm.

His jacket sleeve was pushed up slightly, showing the brass pocket compass his workshop mentor had given him the summer before.

June came in last, her head tilted to the left as she studied the color swatches pinned to the cork wall.