Chapter 10 - The Garden of Willows
One year later.
The spring sun shone warm and golden over the rolling green hills of the Calloway estate in Northfield.
The rose bushes were in full bloom, casting a sweet, heavenly fragrance across the wide wooden porch where Evelyn sat in a comfortable rocking chair, holding a book in her lap.
Down on the lawn, four-year-old Maisie was running through the green grass, her dark curls bouncing in the summer breeze, laughing hysterically as she chased a playful golden retriever puppy.
"Grandma! Look!" Maisie shouted, running up the porch steps, holding up a bright yellow dandelion she had picked from the lawn.
Evelyn set her book down, opening her arms wide as Maisie threw herself into her lap, burying her small face into Evelyn's shoulder.
"It's beautiful, my darling," Evelyn smiled, taking the flower and gently tucking it behind Maisie's ear.
Maisie looked up into Evelyn's eyes, her hazel eyes bright, whole, and completely untroubled by any shadow of the past.
"Grandma?" Maisie asked, her small hand resting against Evelyn's cheek.
"Yes, my precious girl?"
"Are we going to make rabbit cookies today?"
Evelyn looked out over the sunlit garden, listening to the gentle rustle of the willow leaves in the breeze, feeling the deep, unbreakable warmth of her family's restored home.
"We are going to make a whole tray of them, sweetie," Evelyn said softly, kissing the child's forehead. "And then we are going to sit right here and watch the sun go down."
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Maisie giggled, resting her head against Evelyn's chest as the rocking chair swung gently back and forth under the peaceful sky.
The door was unlocked. The nightmare was over. And love had finally brought them home.
