CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX
Years had woven themselves gently into the fabric of the mountain valley. The orchard trees now stood tall and generous, their branches heavy each autumn with fruit that the seven sisters harvested together with laughter and stained hands.
The garden had become a lush, abundant tapestry tended by all, its bounty shared with neighbors and the occasional traveler who found their way to the quiet refuge.
The pavilion had grown into a beloved gathering place, its beams carved with small symbols by Isabella…one for each sister, each season, each shared memory.
One radiant summer morning, the seven sisters gathered once again on the floating dock. The lake sparkled beneath them, reflecting a sky so blue it seemed endless. Birds called from the pines, and a soft breeze car
