Chapter 9 - The New Sanctuary
The country house was no longer a place of secrets.
It was a place of laughter,
of music,
and of a love that was unconditional.
Clarissa had turned the guest rooms into a small retreat for women in transition.
She offered them a place to stay,
a place to heal,
and a place to find their strength.
She was paying it forward,
using her sanctuary to help others find theirs.
Dustin was the "mascot" of the house,
his presence a constant reminder of why they were there.
He was a happy,
confident child,
full of life and curiosity.
He had learned that he belonged,
not because of a name or a family tree,
but because he was loved.
One afternoon,
a young woman arrived at the door,
her eyes red from crying and her suitcases in her hands.
Clarissa welcomed her in,
offering her a cup of tea and a warm meal.
"I don't know where I'm going to go,"
the woman whispered.
"I don't have anything."
Clarissa took her hand,
squeezing it gently.
"You have your strength,"
she said.
"And you have a seat at this table."
"As long as you’re here,"
"you are family."
The woman looked at the dining room,
at the large oak table filled with food and laughter.
"It’s so beautiful,"
she said.
"It’s home,"
Clarissa replied.
She looked at Dustin,
who was showing the woman’s young daughter his toy cars.
He was sharing.
He was happy.
And he was safe.
Clarissa realized that her mother-in-law had been right about one thing.
Dustin did need to learn his place.
But his place wasn't in the corner with a cold potato.
His place was at the head of the table,
surrounded by people who cherished him.
And her place was right beside him,
the guardian of their sanctuary.
The sun set over the hills,
the house glowing like a lantern in the dark.
The shadows were gone.
May you like
The light was here to stay.
And the cold potato was nothing more than a memory of a war that had been won.
