Chapter 10 - The King’s Rest
That night, a gentle spring rain began to fall against the tall windows of the master bedroom.
I sat in my bed, propped up against the leather headboard. My laptop was turned off on the desk across the room. There were no legal pads, no shipping manifests, and no cold cups of black coffee.
A soft knock came at the open door.
I turned my head.
Lily stood there in brand-new green pajamas covered in cartoon frogs, holding her picture book under one arm and her gray rabbit under the other.
“You’re supposed to be asleep, Lily,” I said, though there was no real scolding in my voice.
“The frogs were loud,” she said, walking straight across the rug with barefoot confidence. “So I came to check on the lion.”
“The lion is fine tonight,” I smiled, lifting the corner of the duvet.
She climbed onto the bed, kicking her feet out, and settled right into her spot against my side. She opened The King's Midnight Walk to the very last page—the page she had never reached on that first rainy night four months ago.
In the picture, the cartoon lion was sound asleep under a massive oak tree, surrounded by his friends, while the yellow moon shone softly overhead.
“See?” Lily pointed her finger at the page. “The lion fell asleep because the sneaky foxes were all gone.”
“Is that how the story ends?” I asked softly.
“Yes,” she murmured, her eyes already heavy as she rested her head against my arm. “The lion stays asleep, and the little girl stays in the big house, and nobody has to look for copper or foxes ever again.”
I pulled the soft blanket up over her shoulders, feeling her rhythmic, gentle breathing settle against my chest.
I looked out the window at the rain tapping softly on the glass. It didn't sound like a warning anymore. It didn't sound like footsteps in the dark.
May you like
It just sounded like home.
I leaned my head back onto the soft pillows, wrapped my arm securely around the little girl who had saved my life, and closed my eyes—falling into a deep, peaceful sleep that lasted until the morning sun broke bright across the harbor.
