Chapter 10 - The Geometry of the New House
Six months later, the spring of 2026 reached its full, golden height along the north shore of the city. The stone walls of the Costello estate were covered in thick, pale green ivy, and the kitchen gardens were bright with rows of tulips that Arthur had planted with his own small hands during the April rains.
The round oak table in the dining room was covered in a clean white oilcloth, a massive bowl of fresh fruit sitting in the center between two boxes of crayons and a drawing of a green dinosaur with three heads.
Arthur sat in the center chair, his face brown from the sun, his blue eyes bright and clear as he carefully colored the dinosaur’s tail with a dark green marker.
Dominic stood by the window, his white shirt sleeves rolled up to his broad elbows, his face filled with a peaceful, quiet stillness that had nothing to do with the enforcement of the wards. He was watching Fiona, who was sitting on the edge of the terrace wall outside, her legs swinging over the grass, her dark hair catching the golden light of the five o'clock sun.
“He’s using the wrong green, Fiona,” Dominic called out through the screen door, a genuine, unburdened smile appearing on his lips. “The dinosaur looks like a cabbage.”
Fiona turned her head, her hazel eyes meeting his through the mesh with a soft, radiant warmth that had finally rewritten the history of the house.
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“The dinosaur can be whatever color he wants, Dominic,” she said, her voice carrying over the sound of the lake waves like a long, slow breath that had finally found its air. “The Sandman is gone. The pillow is clean. And the ledger is finally balanced.”
Dominic walked out onto the stone terrace, his large hand catching her fingers as she stood up to meet him, his thumb brushing against the gold band on her ring finger—the final, beautiful sign of a home that had been built to last through any storm.
