Chapter 6 - The Unscorched Earth
The heavy glass door closed behind Eleanor with a soft, final click.
The silence returned to the living room, heavy and still under the bright afternoon sun.
Ryan immediately turned around and dropped to his knees in front of Clara.
He didn't care about the dust on the hardwood or the sharp crease in his dark blue suit trousers.
He wrapped his long arms around Clara’s waist, pressing his forehead gently against her bump.
His shoulders shook once, a silent sob escaping his throat into the cream fabric of her dress.
Clara reached down, her slender fingers threading softly through his dark hair.
"She's okay, Ryan," Clara whispered, her palm feeling a small, sudden kick from within her belly.
"She's kicking."
Ryan lifted his head, a single wet tear tracing down his jawline as he placed his warm palm over her hands.
Up on the stairs, little Lily slowly sat down on the carpet, listening to the quiet breathing of her parents below.
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The scorch mark on the armchair remained, black and ugly against the beige fabric.
But the steam had cleared, leaving the room cold, bright, and completely quiet at last.
