Chapter 86

• The scent of woodsmoke and baking bread mingled in the crisp morning air, a comforting aroma that permeated their farmhouse, a testament to the life they had painstakingly built. Cleo stood at the kitchen window, a steaming mug of herbal tea warming her hands, her gaze drifting towards the sprawling community garden they had nurtured over the years. Each row of vibrant vegetables, each blossoming flower, represented a shared effort, a testament to their collective growth. It was more than just a garden; it was a metaphor for their lives, a symbol of the resilience they had discovered within themselves.
• Five years. Five years since they had escaped the suffocating grip of fear and despair, five years since they had found refuge in the embrace of Seabrook. Five years of healing, of rediscovering joy, of building a future founded on the rubble of a shattered past. She thought back to the raw fear that had consumed her, the paralyzing sense of helplessness in the face of her husband's cruelty. And then, the unexpected arrival of Rowan, the rekindling of a flame she thought had long been extinguished. The risks they had taken, the challenges they had overcome, the love that had blossomed amidst chaos—it all seemed almost surreal, a dream from which she feared she might one day awaken.
• But this was no dream. This was reality, a reality shaped by courage, perseverance, and an unyielding belief in the possibility of a better future. She looked at the photographs adorning the mantelpiece—snapshots of laughter, celebrations, family moments—and a wave of profound gratitude washed over her. They had not only survived; they had thrived. They had built a life rooted in love, trust, and mutual respect.