Chapter 9 - The House in Brooklyn
Six months later, the move to Brooklyn Heights was complete.
The historic brownstone was a beautiful, sprawling home filled with the warmth of real life. The grand rosewood Steinway piano sat in a sun-drenched parlor overlooking a backyard where real green grass grew, and where a golden retriever puppy named "Crust" was currently chasing a tennis ball.
It was a beautiful spring afternoon. The windows were wide open, letting in the sound of distant children playing in the park and the fresh, salty breeze from the East River.
Clara stood in the kitchen, wearing an apron, successfully teaching Alistair how to properly dice an onion without weeping. He was wearing an old t-shirt and jeans, his hair slightly messy, looking completely relaxed and incredibly handsome.
"See? Small, uniform pieces," Clara guided, her hands resting on his shoulders. "A perfect nine out of ten."
"I’m aiming for a ten, professor," Alistair joked, turning his head to press a quick, loving kiss to her lips.
Seraphina burst through the back door, her cheeks flushed from playing with the puppy. She was twelve now, taller, her hair free of the rigid pearl clips, flowing wildly around her shoulders. She held a thick white envelope in her hand, her eyes shining with excitement.
"It came!" she shouted, jumping up and down. "The graduation ceremony details!"
Clara took the envelope, opening it quickly. Inside was the official invitation to the Hunter College Commencement Ceremony. Clara Jenkins was graduating at the top of her class with a Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Psychology, with her graduate studies at Columbia University fully secured for the fall.
"You did it, Clara," Alistair said, his eyes filled with a profound, quiet admiration as he wrapped his arms around her waist from behind, pulling her close against his chest. "The top of your class."
"We did it," Clara corrected softly, turning around in his embrace to look at him and Seraphina. "I couldn't have finished those final research papers without my two favorite case studies."
Seraphina rolled her eyes but smiled affectionately, walking over to lean against them. "Does this mean you're officially a child psychologist now?"
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"Almost," Clara said, reaching out to ruffle the girl's hair. "Which means you can't use any of my negotiation tactics against me anymore. I'll see right through them."
"We'll see about that," Seraphina countered with a mischievous grin. "I’ve been practicing."
