Chapter 10 - The Garden under the Sun
Later that afternoon, as the golden rays of the setting sun painted the sky in shades of pink and orange, Marcus and Lily walked hand-in-hand through the blooming rose garden behind the estate.
They stopped at a quiet stone bench beneath a large magnolia tree, where a beautiful marble memorial plaque had been placed in memory of Clara Vance.
Lily knelt down on the soft grass, placing a small bouquet of fresh white lilies beside the stone.
"Do you think Mommy can see us?" Lily asked softly, looking up at her father with wide, curious hazel eyes.
Marcus sat on the stone bench, lifting Lily up onto his lap and pulling her close against his chest. He reached down, holding the gold three-petaled lily pendant hanging around her neck.
"I know she can, sweetie," Marcus said gently, kissing the top of her dark curls. "She guided you to Ethan that night in the park. She made sure you picked up that phone."
Lily leaned her head against her father’s chest, listening to the steady, warm rhythm of his heartbeat—a sound that made her feel safer than any concrete arch or warm subway car ever could.
"I'm not invisible anymore, Dad," Lily whispered, her fingers wrapping around Marcus’s thumb.
"No, you're not," Marcus replied, his voice thick with deep, boundless devotion. "You are our light, Lily. And you are finally home."
Down on the lawn, Ethan called out to her, tossing a red frisbee into the air while the family’s new golden retriever puppy chased after it, barking happily.
May you like
Lily looked at her father, smiled her bright dimpled smile, and ran down the grassy hill to join her brother under the warm, endless sunshine.
The freezing night was over forever. Their family was whole at last.
