Chapter 15 - PROTECTING THE LIGHT
The sun was setting over the Atlantic Ocean, casting a warm golden light across the white sands of the Hamptons.
Richard walked down the wooden steps from his back porch toward the beach. Sophie was sitting on a blanket, drawing in a sketchbook with colored pencils. Winston lay curled up beside her, resting his heavy golden head on her lap.
When she heard her father's footsteps, she looked up and smiled. It wasn't the tentative, frightened smile of three weeks ago. It was bright, whole, and fearless.
"Daddy!" she called out, holding up her sketch. "Look, I drew Mom."
Richard sat down in the sand beside her, taking the paper. It was a beautiful, childish drawing of Claire standing in a field of sunflowers under a bright blue sky.
Richard felt a tightness in his throat, but for the first time in months, it wasn't pain. It was peace.
"It’s perfect, sweetheart," Richard whispered, wrapping his arm around her shoulders and pulling her close. "Mom would have loved it."
May you like
"Is the bad man gone?" Sophie asked quietly, her blue eyes looking directly into his.
"Yes," Richard said firmly. "He's gone. He can never hurt us again."
