Chapter 14 - THE MUSIC BOX THAT PLAYED AGAIN
A year later, the music box returned.
Not the original.
That one had been too badly damaged to restore completely.
But a skilled craftsman had salvaged the surviving wood, silver roses, and parts of the original mechanism.
He built a new box around them.
The melody was the same.
Claire's favorite lullaby.
Cole placed it on a table in the family room.
Not behind glass.
Not locked away.
Where Noah could touch it.
Where Eli could listen.
Where memories could exist without becoming rules.
Noah stared at the box.
“Daddy?”
Cole looked down.
“Yes?”
“Can I open it?”
Cole smiled.
“Of course.”
Noah lifted the lid.
The melody began.
Soft.
Delicate.
Beautiful.
Eli smiled.
“It's pretty.”
Noah nodded.
Then looked at Cole.
“Mommy liked this song?”
Cole's eyes filled.
“She loved it.”
Noah smiled.
“Can we play it again?”
Cole nodded.
“As many times as you want.”
Later that evening, Elena found Cole beside the music box.
He looked thoughtful.
“What's wrong?”
He smiled.
“Nothing.”
She sat beside him.
He took her hand.
“I used to think keeping Claire's things untouched was how I kept her close.”
Elena listened.
He continued.
“But Noah needed to know her. Not just fear breaking what she left behind.”
Elena smiled.
“She would have wanted that.”
Cole looked at her.
May you like
Then whispered:
“I think so too.”
