Chapter 8 - Light in Colton Ridge
Three days later, a black Range Rover pulled up the long, winding driveway of the glass-and-stone house on Colton Ridge.
The sky was clear, the afternoon sun casting a brilliant golden light across the fresh blanket of snow that covered the mountain. The house, which had stood as a cold, silent monument to grief for twenty-four months, seemed different today. Sunlight reflected off the high windows, illuminating the spacious living areas inside.
Graham killed the engine and turned around to look at the backseat.
Lily was dressed in a warm, brand-new pink winter parka, soft denim jeans, and insulated winter boots. Beside her, strapped securely into a brand-new, top-of-the-line rear-facing car seat, was tiny Toby. He was wrapped in a plush fleece blanket, his cheeks full and rosy, breathing softly and deeply in his sleep.
“We’re home,” Graham said softly.
Lily looked out the window at the vast, beautiful property, her eyes wide with wonder. “It looks like a castle.”
“It’s just a house,” Graham smiled, stepping out to open her door. “But we can make it a castle if you want.”
Leo bounded out of the vehicle first, barking joyfully at the fresh snow before trotting up the porch steps to wait at the front door. Graham unbuckled Toby’s car seat, holding the handle carefully, while extending his other hand to Lily. She took it without hesitation.
When they stepped through the front entrance, the warmth of the radiant floor heating enveloped them.
For two years, Graham had avoided the left wing of the house. But over the last forty-eight hours, with the help of a team of contractors and interior decorators he had hired at a moment’s notice, the dark, forgotten space had been completely transformed.
Graham led Lily down the hallway and pushed open a door.
Lily gasped.
The room, once locked away in shadow, was flooded with sunlight. The walls were painted a warm, soft cream. In the center sat a beautiful wooden crib for Toby, complete with soft, hand-stitched blankets and mobile hanging above it. Next to it was a cozy reading armchair, and across the room was a twin bed made up with colorful, star-patterned sheets, surrounded by plush stuffed animals of every animal imaginable.
On the nightstand sat a freshly bought candy box—filled with the finest chocolates from the local bakery.
“This... this is for me?” Lily whispered, stepping cautiously onto the soft rug.
“This is your room, Lily,” Graham said gently, setting Toby’s car seat down near the crib. “And Toby’s. You never have to worry about cold floors, hungry nights, or selling candy ever again. You are safe here.”
Lily walked slowly around the room, touching the soft stuffed bears, tracing the stars on her duvet. Then she turned around, ran across the hardwood floor, and threw her arms around Graham’s waist, burying her face into his sweater.
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Graham stood frozen for half a second, overwhelmed by the sudden, fierce burst of warmth in his chest, before wrapping his long arms around her, holding her close.
Over her shoulder, he looked out the window at the snow-covered mountains. For the first time in two years, the icy grip around his heart had completely melted away.
