Chapter 14 - The Scars We Carry
Even with the legal victory safely secured in a fireproof safe at the firm, the psychological echoes of the betrayal took time to quiet. That night, as the coastal fog rolled heavily against the glass windows of our cottage, I stood over Caleb's crib, watching his tiny chest rise and fall in deep, peaceful slumber. A sudden phantom memory of the hospital door handle turning—of Adrian’s muffled voice calling my name while conspiring with his mother—made my breath catch in my throat. I sank quietly into the nearby rocking chair, pulling a soft knitted blanket around my shoulders.
Footsteps approached down the hallway, and Evelyn—who had moved into a charming guest apartment just five minutes down the road—stepped softly into the nursery holding a mug of chamomile tea. She didn't say anything; she simply handed me the warm mug, pulled up the matching chair, and sat beside me in the dim light.
"It's normal for the ghosts to linger a little while," Evelyn whispered gently, staring down at the sleeping infant. "You fought a war in that hospital, Mara. Give yourself permission to heal."
