Chapter Tweny: A Visit from the Past
The afternoon sun spilled over the porch steps, turning the garden blooms into little flares of color—lavender, rose, and marigold swaying in a gentle breeze. Inside the house, the sound of children laughing filtered through the open window. Mira’s high-pitched giggles danced with Leo’s exasperated “No, Mira! That’s not how catapults work!”
Catherine smiled faintly as she folded laundry at the kitchen table. The house was full—not just of noise, but of warmth. The kind of warmth you build, stitch by stitch, scar by scar.
Then came a knock.
Firm. Hesitant. Unmistakably familiar.
She turned, frowning slightly. Max was at the hardware store. No deliveries scheduled. Wiping her hands on her apron, she stepped to the front door and opened it.
There he
