Chapter 62

• Jessie’s POV
• The golden rays of the early morning sun streamed through the white curtains, spilling onto the polished hardwood floor like nature’s gentle spotlight. It was a soft, almost hushed dawn, a perfect start to what promised to be another beautiful day. I sat on the porch steps, wrapped in a light shawl, the warmth of my coffee mug seeping into my palms. The air was cool but promising, carrying the soft murmur of birds waking up, a delicate symphony that mixed with the joyful giggles of Sophie and Cal Jr. playing tag across the dewy backyard. Their laughter, light and free, was a sound I knew I could never get tired of—it was the soundtrack to our new, vibrant normal.
• It was hard to believe that just a few months ago, everything felt so uncertain, so fraught with tension. There had been secrets unraveling, hearts breaking, and difficult truths finally being spoken aloud. The air had been thick with unspoken words and lingering pain.