Chapter 14 - The New Foundation
Spring arrived at the Sterling Manor three months later.
The snow on the estate grounds had melted, giving way to bright green lawns, blooming white lilies, and vibrant cherry blossoms that filled the air with a sweet, fresh scent.
The high glass double doors at the entrance of the mansion were wide open, letting in a warm, gentle breeze that rustled the white curtains in the foyer.
The grand foyer itself had been completely renovated.
The cold, sterile marble floors had been covered with rich, warm oak floorboards, and the towering white pillars were painted a soft, cream tone that reflected the natural sunlight. In place of the massive, looming crystal chandelier, a modern, minimalist brass ring light hung from the vaulted ceiling, casting a soft, gentle glow across the room.
Richard stood in the center of the new wooden floor, wearing a casual grey sweater and jeans, holding a paintbrush and a bucket of warm cream paint.
He was touch-up painting the baseboards around the front entrance.
Leo came running through the wide-open glass doors from the garden, his small shoes covered in dry grass, carrying a large yellow butterfly net in his hand.
"Daddy! Look!" Leo squealed, holding up a clear plastic jar with a bright orange monarch butterfly inside. "I caught one!"
Richard set his paintbrush down on a drop cloth and dropped to his knees, taking the jar from his son's hands.
"That's incredible, Leo," Richard said, smiling warmly as he looked at the bright orange wings fluttering inside the glass. "It's beautiful."
"Can we let it go now?" Leo asked, looking up at his father with bright, clear hazel eyes that carried no shadows, no fear, and no painful memories. "Mr. Henderson said butterflies don't like being inside boxes."
Richard felt a lump rise in his throat—a deep, overwhelming wave of love and gratitude.
"You're absolutely right, Leo," Richard murmured, reaching over to unscrew the lid of the jar. "Nothing in this house belongs in a box."
May you like
Richard tipped the jar upward.
The monarch butterfly fluttered its bright orange wings, rising out of the glass cylinder, soaring up into the warm air of the foyer before flying out through the open double doors into the vast, sunlit sky beyond.
