Third person pov:
The next morning, Marjorie and Reece arrived at the nursery together, the excitement of their engagement still fresh. Marjorie couldn’t stop glancing at the ring on her finger, a smile constantly tugging at her lips. As they walked through the familiar doors of the nursery, the sounds of children playing filled the air, and everything felt a little brighter.
Autumn, as usual, was already at her desk, her focus intense as she went over paperwork. Her cold demeanor was a stark contrast to the warmth that radiated from Marjorie and Reece.
“Good morning, Autumn,” Marjorie greeted her, her voice light with happiness. “Reece and I have something to tell you.”
Autumn looked up from her papers, her expression neutral, eyes flicking between the two of them. “Morning. What is it?” she asked, her voice as steady and emotionless as ever.
Marjorie shot a quick glance at Reece, who gave her a reassuring nod. “We’re engaged,” Marjorie said, her excitement bubbling over.
For a moment, there was silence. Autumn’s face remained unreadable, her usual icy exterior firmly in place. She blinked once, then gave a small nod. “I see,” she said calmly. “Congratulations.”
It wasn’t the reaction Marjorie had hoped for, but she knew better than to expect anything overly emotional from Autumn. Still, the lack of response felt a bit strange given the significance of the news. Reece, however, seemed unfazed, clearly used to his sister’s stoic nature.
“Thanks, sis,” Reece said, clapping her lightly on the shoulder. “We wanted you to be one of the first to know.”
Autumn’s eyes flickered briefly, a nearly imperceptible softening as she glanced at Reece. “I appreciate that,” she replied, her tone as cool as ever. She returned her focus to the paperwork in front of her. “I’m sure you two will be happy.”
Marjorie felt a momentary pang of disappointment, but Reece squeezed her hand, grounding her. “That’s just how she is,” he whispered. “She’s happy for us in her own way.”
Marjorie nodded, understanding but still finding it difficult to break through Autumn’s chilly exterior. “Thank you, Autumn,” she said, her voice gentle.
Autumn gave a curt nod before returning to her tasks. “You both have a lot of work ahead,” she said matter-of-factly, signaling the end of the conversation. “Make sure it doesn’t interfere with that.”
Reece laughed lightly, amused by his sister’s practicality. “Don’t worry. We’ll keep it professional.”
As they walked away, Marjorie leaned into Reece and sighed. “I guess that’s the most we’ll get from her, huh?”
Reece smiled warmly. “Yeah, that’s just how Autumn is. But trust me, she’s probably a little happy under that icy surface.”
Marjorie smiled back. It was an odd reaction, but it was Autumn’s way, and that was enough. At least, in her own quiet way, she had acknowledged the engagement. And for now, that was all Marjorie needed.
As the day progressed, Marjorie found herself reflecting on Autumn’s reaction. She knew that Autumn’s cold demeanor wasn’t personal—she had been that way for as long as Marjorie had known her. Still, it was hard not to feel a little deflated after sharing such a big moment.
Later, during the lunch break, Marjorie sat in the staff room, sipping her tea while Reece busied himself with helping some of the children in the other room. Autumn entered the room silently, carrying a stack of documents. She placed them on the table without a word, but Marjorie noticed the way Autumn’s gaze lingered for just a second longer than usual on the ring.
