Chapter 14 - At 3:07 A.M. Years Later, I Opened the Barn Door and Saw the Family Claire Had Always WantedThe anniversary of Claire's death arrived.
I couldn't sleep.
At 3:07 a.m., I walked to the barn.
The same barn where I had once found Emma protecting my daughters.
The memory remained vivid.
Then I heard laughter.
I opened the door.
Sophie, Lily, and Grace were sitting in the hay.
They were older now.
Seven years old.
Emma sat beside them.
She smiled.
“Couldn't sleep?”
“No.”
She nodded.
“Neither could we.”
I looked around.
The barn was decorated with photographs.
Claire.
The girls.
Emma.
Ethan.
Sarah.
Me.
A family.
A real one.
Emma handed me a small box.
“Open it.”
Inside was the repaired ruby pendant.
“What is this?”
“We wanted you to have it.”
I stared at my daughters.
“You're giving this back?”
Sophie smiled.
“It belongs to Mom.”
Lily added:
“And you.”
Grace hugged me.
“We don't need it to remember her.”
I couldn't speak.
Then Emma said:
“She would want you to be happy.”
May you like
I cried.
This time, I didn't hide it.
