Chapter 20 - The New Dawn
Three Months Later
The morning sun filtered gently through the sheer curtains of the Callahan estate in the Hudson Valley.
I was standing in the kitchen, folding a small stack of pristine white towels, when I smelled it.
Pancakes.
I smiled, turning around. Grant was standing at the stove, wearing an expensive cashmere sweater and an apron that said Kiss the Cook. He was attempting, rather poorly, to flip a blueberry pancake while Lily supervised from her stool at the island.
"You're burning it, Daddy," Lily said. Her voice was clear, confident, and completely back to normal.
"I am not burning it, bug," Grant defended himself, though the smoke alarm gave a tiny chirp in disagreement. "It's just heavily caramelized."
I laughed, walking over and wrapping my arms around his waist from behind. He leaned back into my embrace, turning his head to press a warm kiss to my temple.
The last three months had been a whirlwind of healing.
Renata and Arthur had both taken plea deals when they realized they had no way out. Arthur was serving consecutive life sentences in a maximum-security federal prison for the murder of Sarah Callahan. Renata got twenty years for conspiracy, child abuse, and fraud.
My mother had received her kidney transplant two weeks ago. She was currently resting in the guest cottage on the estate, happily complaining about the hospital food while Marcus played chess with her on the porch.
I wasn't the nanny anymore. I wasn't the invisible help.
"Emma," Lily called out, holding up a drawing.
I let go of Grant and walked over to her. It was a new drawing. No cages. No monsters with fire. It was a picture of three stick figures standing holding hands under a big yellow sun. A tall man, a little girl, and a woman with long hair.
"It's us," Lily beamed.
Tears pricked my eyes, but this time, they were tears of overwhelming joy. I kissed the top of her head—her beautiful, honey-blonde hair had fully grown back, soft and completely unblemished.
"It's perfect, sweetie," I whispered.
Grant plated the slightly burnt pancakes and set them on the counter. He walked around the island, pulling me into his chest, looking down at me with those intense, beautiful blue eyes.
"I was thinking," Grant murmured, tracing my jawline with his thumb. "The charity gala is coming up again next month. I need a date. Someone who isn't afraid to put me in my place."
"I think I can check my schedule," I smiled, leaning up to meet his lips.
May you like
It was the smell of fresh coffee, sweet syrup, and the crisp mountain air. It was a smell I would never forget.
It was the smell of home.
