Chapter 40 - The Yellow Door Remains
Thanksgiving arrived, painting the suburban neighborhood in brilliant shades of orange and brown.
Richard stood in the kitchen, carving a turkey, while Sarah laughed at Mia trying to fix a lumpy bowl of mashed potatoes.
The house was warm, loud, and smelling of cinnamon and roasted garlic.
A car pulled into the driveway.
Richard stopped carving. He put the knife down and walked quickly toward the front hallway.
Through the glass panes of the window, he saw a bright, confident young woman walking up the front path, carrying a heavy duffel bag. She looked older, more mature, carrying the undeniable aura of an artist who had found her place in the world.
She reached the front porch. She didn't knock.
She opened the bright, unmistakable yellow door and stepped inside.
"I'm here!"
Sophie called out, dropping her bag with a heavy thud, a massive, radiant smile breaking across her face.
Richard walked out of the kitchen, his heart bursting with an absolute, perfect joy.
He didn't need to protect her from the shadows anymore. The past had finally, permanently lost its grip on their lives. They had survived the storm, and they had built an unbreakable paradise in the aftermath.
"Welcome home, kiddo,"
Richard smiled.
May you like
"It's good to be back,"
Sophie answered.
