Chapter 10 - The Last Sunset
That evening, the rain returned to Westchester, washing over the manicured lawns and streaming down the massive glass windows of the estate.
Inside the living room, the fire crackled in the stone hearth, casting dancing amber reflections across the white leather sofa.
Daniel sat in his usual spot, but the board packet was gone for good, replaced by a stack of children's storybooks resting neatly on the glass coffee table.
Footsteps approached from the hallway.
The familiar, uneven slapping rhythm of rubber-soled sneakers against marble.
Daniel didn't close his eyes this time. He didn't need to run his experiment anymore.
Lily rounded the corner, dragging the heavy cashmere blanket behind her with a triumphant little grunt. Scrape. Grunt. Scrape.
She hauled the fabric all the way to the sofa, climbed up beside him, and carefully draped the soft wool over his knees, patting his chest twice with her small hand.
"All better," she declared with absolute finality.
May you like
Daniel wrapped his arm around her, pulling her close as the grandfather clock chimed the hour in the hallway. The house no longer smelled just of lemon polish and unfulfilled grief. It smelled of warmth, of safety, and of a future that finally belonged to the living.
"Yes, Lily," Daniel whispered, staring into the bright, crackling flames of the fire. "All better."
