Chapter 85

• The ride back from the beach was quiet but calm. Ken's hair was slightly tousled from the breeze and looked more alive than in weeks. Though his legs remained weak, his shoulders seemed straighter, as if the hours at the beach had eased some of the weight pressing on him.
• Cynthia sat close beside him, her hands resting on her lap, but now and then, she glanced at him, making sure he was fine. She had watched him laugh earlier, watched him loosen up in a way she had not seen before. That memory stayed with her, and it made her heart warm.
• As the car turned into the long driveway that led to the Sydney mansion, the mood changed. The playful air from the beach seemed to fade, replaced by the heavy silence surrounding the house. The tall gates closed behind them, and the car rolled slowly across the marble paving until it stopped in front of the wide veranda.