2025-11-23 19:50:48
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Chapter 168
Elena came into the room, holding Claire’s hand. Claire was now wearing clean, soft blue pajamas with gray clouds on the pants."Sit by the fire, baby," Elena told her, spreading a thick woolen blanket on the floor near the hearth. "Warm your toes."Claire curled up on the blanket, pulling Barnaby into her lap, watching the orange flames dance and pop against the black iron."I am going to make stew for dinner," Elena said to Lawrence, walking past him toward the kitchen. "With the fresh bread.""Can I help you?" Lawrence asked, standing up from the hearth."No," Elena said with a soft smile, placing a gentle hand on his chest. "You sit down by the fire with Claire. Rest your ribs."Lawrence knew better than to argue when Elena used that tone. He walked over to the hearth and sat down on the blanket next to his daughter.Claire imme
Chapter 167
Claire nodded quickly, spun around on her heels, and dashed back up the steps to fetch her pink sneakers.She returned two minutes later, her sneakers properly on her feet and her bright red watering can clutched tightly in her hands."Where do I put them?" she asked, kneeling down beside Lawrence on the wooden plank.Lawrence opened the small envelope of marigold seeds. The seeds were tiny, black and white needles, thin and light as paper.He poured a small handful into Claire’s open palm. "You hold them very carefully so the wind doesn't blow them away."Claire held her breath, cupping her other hand over the seeds like she was protecting a tiny, fragile bird. "I am holding them tight."Lawrence used his finger to poke a small hole in the dirt, only about half an inch deep, right at the corner of the garden bed."Drop two seeds in
Chapter 166
Lawrence carried Claire inside, stepping quietly across the cool wooden floor into her small bedroom at the end of the hall.He laid her gently on the soft quilt, untied her light-up sneakers, and slid them off her feet. He pulled the light blanket up to her chin.Barnaby the bear was still sitting on the pillow. Lawrence tucked the stuffed bear under Claire’s arm, and she hugged it instinctively in her sleep.He stood there for a long moment, watching the steady rise and fall of her chest, before stepping quietly backward out of the room.He pulled the wooden door almost shut, leaving it open just a crack so they could hear her if she called out.In the kitchen, Elena was unpacking the groceries. She had sliced several pieces of the sourdough bread and placed them on a wooden board.She had also set out a small crock of soft goat cheese, a bowl of purp
Chapter 165
The lake was very quiet in the morning breeze. Small waves lapped against the gray stones at their feet with a gentle, steady sound.Claire leaned forward, staring into the shallow water. She pointed at a flat gray pebble that shone like silver under the clear surface."Look at that stone, Daddy," she whispered, not wanting to scare the ducks away. "It is totally flat, just like a little pancake."Lawrence bent down slowly, keeping his back straight to protect his aching ribs. He reached his fingers into the cold water and picked up the stone.The water dripped from his fingers onto the grass. He wiped the smooth pebble against his jeans and handed it to his daughter."That is a skipping stone," Lawrence told her softly. "If you throw it the right way, it dances across the water."Claire held the stone in her small hand, turning it over with her thumb. Her eyes were bright with curiosity."Can you make it dance, Daddy?" she asked, looking up at him. "Show me how to make it jump."Lawr
Chapter 164
Lawrence turned his head. Elena was not in the bed.He sat up slowly. His ribs were stiff, but the sharp, stabbing agony from the day before had softened into a dull, manageable ache. The swelling on his face had gone down, and the cut over his eye felt clean and tight under the stitches.He stood up, walking across the cool wooden floor on bare feet.He pulled a clean gray t-shirt over his head and stepped out into the quiet hallway.From the kitchen came the soft sizzle of butter in a hot pan, and the sweet, rich smell of cooking batter.Lawrence walked into the kitchen.Elena was standing at the old black stove, wearing an oversized knit sweater and loose cotton pants. Her hair was down around her shoulders, shining in the bright morning sunlight pouring through the window.At the wooden table sat Claire.She was s
Chapter 163
Elena walked down a short hallway and opened a wooden door on the right. Inside was a small bedroom with a single wooden bed, a colorful wool blanket, and a window that opened toward the garden."This is your room, Claire," Elena said, turning on a small bedside lamp shaped like a ceramic bird.Claire slipped down from Lawrence’s arms and ran into the room. She jumped onto the bed, her small shoes kicking against the wooden frame.She hugged her teddy bear and pulled the thick wool blanket up to her chin. "It's so soft, Daddy. It smells like clean blankets."Lawrence walked into the room and sat on the edge of the mattress. He reached down and untied her pink sneakers, sliding them off her feet and setting them neatly on the floor."You need to sleep, Claire," Lawrence said softly, brushing a stray lock of hair from her forehead. "It has been a very long day."
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