Chapter 14 - A FAMILY BORN FROM WINTER
The twins turned one in February.
We celebrated in the mansion's sunroom.
There were pink balloons.
A small cake.
And more stuffed animals than any two children could possibly need.
Lena laughed when Rose smashed frosting into her hair.
Lily stared suspiciously at her cake before deciding it was edible.
I sat beside Lena.
She looked at me.
“Happy?”
I smiled.
“More than I thought possible.”
She took my hand.
For a moment, we watched the girls.
Then Lena whispered:
“Thank you.”
I frowned.
“For what?”
“For finding us.”
I looked toward the windows.
Snow drifted beyond the glass.
I remembered the loading dock.
The blood.
The silence.
The two tiny faces beneath my coat.
Then I looked at Lena.
“You saved them.”
She shook her head.
“We both did.”
May you like
I smiled.
And for the first time, I believed I might deserve the life unfolding around me.
