Chapter 14
Sunday morning in the cottage arrived without the oppressive weight of corporate schedules or social obligations. Sunlight poured freely through the uncurtained kitchen windows, warming the butcher-block island where a griddle sizzled with butter and pancake batter.
Arthur stood at the stove wearing an apron that read World’s Okayest Dad, a gift Elena had picked up at a quirky roadside shop during their move. His reddish-brown hair was slightly messy from sleep, and a mug of black coffee sat steaming on the counter beside him.
At the small wooden table nearby, Elena and Lily were deep in concentration over a box of Crayola crayons and a coloring book. Lily’s white stuffed rabbit sat propped up on a spare chair next to her, as if supervising the artistic endeavor.
“More blue, Elena,” Lily instructed seriously, pointing a chubby finger at the page. “The ocean has to be very blue.”
“Got it, boss,” Elena laughed, switching crayons to fill in the waves of a clumsy paper drawing of a sailboat.
Arthur flipped a golden-brown pancake on the griddle with a neat flick of his wrist. He smiled, listening to the easy, natural cadence of their voices. Six weeks ago, this domestic scene would have felt entirely out of reach—a fantasy belonging to a different timeline. Now, it was his everyday reality.
There were still challenges ahead, of course. He was freelancing now, building a consulting practice from his home office, trading high-stress corporate boardrooms for flexible hours and lower income. They were living on a tighter budget, clipping coupons, and learning how to live without the cushion of generational wealth or family approval. Beatrice hadn’t called, and none of his former associates had reached out. But none of that bothered him anymore. The currency he valued now wasn’t prestige or social standing; it was the unhurried laughter of a Sunday morning shared with people he loved.
“Pancakes are ready,” Arthur announced, sliding the stack onto a ceramic plate and carrying it over to the table.
Lily scrambled down from her chair with uncontained excitement, running over to wrap her arms around his waist as he set the plate down. He chuckled, dropping a gentle kiss onto the top of her blonde head.
“Thank you, Daddy,” Lily said softly, her voice filled with pure, unreserved affection.
“You’re very welcome, bug,” Arthur replied, his heart swelling.
Elena looked up from the coloring book, her eyes shining with warmth and pride. She stood up, wrapped her arms around Arthur’s neck, and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek.
“You know,” Elena murmured, smiling against his skin, “you’re getting much better at this dad thing.”
“I had a great teacher,” Arthur whispered, resting his hands gently on her waist.
May you like
They sat down together around the simple wooden table, sharing a breakfast made of burnt edges, too much syrup, and genuine, untainted joy. The shadows of the past were entirely gone, replaced by the bright promise of the day unfolding before them.
***
