Where We Begin - Part II | The Lake Between Worlds | Englot | FanFic | G!P

Chapter 5: Heart Murmurs 🚨

The house was quiet again by nightfall.

Charlie had long since fallen asleep, his tiny snores coming through the baby monitor beside the sofa. The lake outside shimmered under the soft blue of the moonlight, the air-conditioning humming in gentle rhythm.

Charlotte closed her laptop, rubbing the tension out of her neck. She'd been reading until her eyes blurred, Watin Opas's articles, the waterfall, the same looping thoughts she couldn't quite silence.

She glanced toward the kitchen.

Engfa stood by the sink, her hair loose, the sleeves of her T-shirt pushed up as she rinsed the last of the dishes. It was an ordinary sight, too ordinary. Maybe that's what made Charlotte's chest ache a little.

"Hey," she said softly.Engfa turned, drying her hands on a towel. "Hey...what is it?."

"You've been quiet tonight."

Engfa shrugged, giving her a half-smile. "Just tired. Long day." Charlotte's eyes lingered on her, the way she leaned slightly against the counter, the faint paleness around her lips.

"Are you sure you're okay? You looked... off earlier."

Engfa frowned playfully. "Off?"

"I mean..." Charlotte hesitated, searching for the right words.

"You looked like you were in pain."

"Oh, that," Engfa said lightly, waving a hand. "Probably indigestion. I shouldn't have had that spicy khao soi for lunch. You know my stomach's dramatic."

Charlotte didn't look convinced. "You pressed your chest."

"Because it burned," Engfa said quickly. Then, softer, "Don't look at me like that, Doctor Austin. I'm fine. Really."

Charlotte sighed, still studying her. "If you collapse in front of me again, I'm charging you for emotional damage." Engfa laughed quietly, stepping closer.

"Noted, sweetheart."

The tension eased a little. She brushed her knuckles against Charlotte's arm, the touch light, grounding.

"Besides," she said, "we have more important things to think about. Like Friday. Tomorrow."

Charlotte blinked. "Friday?"

"Our no-kids night." Engfa's eyes glimmered with mischief. "Patcha and Snack are hosting. I told them we'd go."

"I don't know if I feel like socialising," Charlotte murmured. "It's been... a long week. Can't you say I'm ill or something"

Engfa tilted her head. "Nope, nope...not escaping no-kids night. A long week is exactly why you should come. You said once, after everything, we can't keep living like we're waiting for the next time shift."

Charlotte smirked. "I said that?" "You did," Engfa teased. "So don't start being a hermit now. It's dinner, drinks, and laughter. You, me, our friends. That's normal."

Charlotte gave in, smiling faintly. "Fine. But you're the one explaining to Charlie why his grandmothers spoil him every Friday."

"I'll tell him it's our therapy night."

"Therapy?"

"Married life therapy," Engfa said, leaning in to kiss her.

"Very effective." Charlotte's laugh softened into the quiet between them. "You're always going to be impossible, aren't you."

"Yep, you should get used to it, it's about time." Engfa reached past her to turn off the kitchen light, the last glow fading into the warm hush of the house.