Chapter 14 - The Garden of Voices
Clara walked across the room, sitting down on the bench beside Lily at the piano.
She opened the velvet box and placed the pendant around Lily’s neck. The carved red rose rested gently against the child's chest, its gold edges catching the soft lamplight.
Lily stopped playing. She reached down, her small fingers tracing the smooth surface of the stone, her eyes reflecting the quiet peace that had finally returned to her life.
"She knew you would find me, didn't she?" Lily asked softly.
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"She always knew," Clara whispered, pulling the girl close against her side. "Your mother was the smartest woman I ever met. She knew that no matter how deep the shadows got, family always finds its way home."
Lily leaned her head against Clara’s shoulder, her small breath rhythmic and calm as the clock on the mantel ticked away the quiet seconds of the evening.
