Chapter 15 - The Promise Kept
A soft tug on Julian’s sleeve pulled him from his thoughts.
He looked down to see Lily standing beside him, the puppy panting happily at her muddy sneakers. She wasn't wearing her hood today; the warm spring sunshine illuminated her golden curls, making them glow like an aura.
“Is Mom happy here?” Lily asked, looking at the granite stone with quiet curiosity.
Julian smiled, wrapping his arm around her shoulders and pulling her close against his side. “She’s very happy, Lily. She can see you from up there, and she’s smiling every single day.”
Lily reached into her pocket and pulled out the tarnished silver locket. She had repaired the broken chain with a small piece of blue ribbon. She carefully laid it on top of the granite stone, pressing her small palm against it.
“Goodbye, Mom,” Lily said with sweet, effortless certainty. “Dad is taking care of me now.”
Julian felt a lump rise in his throat, but this time, there was no sorrow in it. He picked Lily up, seating her comfortably on his shoulders as she squealed with delight, grabbing onto his hair for balance.
“What do you want to do today, little bird?” Julian asked, turning back toward the farmhouse.
“I want to plant more flowers!” Lily declared, pointing toward the garden bed by the porch. “Yellow ones! So Mom can see them from heaven!”
“Yellow flowers it is,” Julian laughed.
May you like
As they walked toward the house, the sun climbed higher into the clear blue sky, casting their long shadow across the grass. The scars were still there, inked into his flesh and burned into his memory. But for the first time in Julian Vance’s life, he was no longer walking into the dark.
He was walking into the light, guided by the small, joyful girl in the yellow coat."
