Chapter 32 Shadows That Linger

• The next morning arrived with a crisp chill in the air and the kind of light that made the world feel full of promise.
• Emma stood outside the town council building, her fingers wrapped tightly around the handle of her tote bag, filled with proposal documents and a grant application she’d spent the entire evening perfecting. Dressed in a navy blazer over a simple blouse and jeans, she looked both poised and determined—a woman who was no longer afraid to take up space.
• Lucas stood beside her, his hand resting gently at the small of her back.