Celeste rounds the corner, heels clicking impatiently over polished tile, a slim silver phone clutched in one exquisitely manicured hand.

"Look, Jake, I've told you already. He's off on some godforsaken field trip with the Mars girl. If you want me back in time for the party, I won't be seeing him-"

She's furious to have come all this way and have no chance of seeing her son but as she glances down the hall the fury changes to utter shock.

She'd never expected to see that man again. Had almost convinced herself that she'd never seen him in the first place. Certainly, she'd never thought to see him here, in her home, leaning against the wall as if he owned the place.

"You..." she breathes, the phone slipping from her grasp and snapping closed as it hits the floor.