Chapter 9 - A New HomeSix months later, our daughter was born.
We named her Lily.
The day we brought her home, Clara stood beside the nursery window holding her.
Toby climbed onto the chair.
“Can I see my sister?”
Clara smiled.
“Of course.”
He looked at Lily.
“She has tiny fingers.”
I laughed.
“So do you.”
He looked offended.
“No, Daddy. Mine are bigger.”
Clara laughed.
The sound filled the room.
I realized I hadn't heard her laugh freely in months.
That night, I walked through our new house.
I had sold the old property.
I didn't want a single room associated with what happened.
Our new home had large windows.
A warm kitchen.
A backyard.
And most importantly...
A dining table.
A big one.
Eight chairs.
Clara looked at it and smiled.
“Why did you buy such a huge table?”
“Because everyone gets a seat.”
She looked at me.
I kissed her forehead.
“No one in this family eats in a storage room.”
Her eyes filled with tears.
She wrapped her arms around me.
“I love you.”
“I love you too.”
Toby shouted from the living room.
“Daddy!”
“What?”
“Mom says dinner is ready!”
I smiled.
“Then let's eat.”
We sat together.
Clara beside me.
Toby across from us.
Lily sleeping peacefully in her bassinet.
There was laughter.
Warm food.
Music.
No shouting.
No insults.
No fear.
May you like
Just family.
The kind I had always wanted.
