Chapter 61 A New Year, New Beginnings.

The first day of the new year ushered in a clear, brisk sky, that kind of sky that portended a new beginning and boded great promise. The festivities of Christmas were barely behind us, and with this New Year, I was feeling quite imbued with expectation and excitement about what the future held for our family. Kai and I had always held the belief that beginning the year on a high note sets the pace for the rest of the year, and this would be no different. We had spent the previous evening reflecting over the past year, acknowledging its highs and lows, and now we stood ready to embrace whatever lay ahead. The morning was calm; the house was still in complete quiet as I trudged my way downstairs to the kitchen. Michael was already awake, and his baby monitor was crackling with the sounds of his coos and babbles. I smiled warmly at the thought of our little boy, who was growing fast. I set up breakfast. The routine was familiar and calming. As I whisked eggs and stirred pancake batter