Chapter 4: Whispering Winds
The first few weeks in Cedar Cove were quiet. Maya took a remote freelance editing job to cover their expenses, working late into the night while Lily slept.
During the day, they walked along the coastline. At first, Lily refused to take off her beanie, afraid of the stares from strangers. But Cedar Cove wasn't like the affluent neighborhood they had left behind. The locals were slow-paced, friendly, and unbothered by appearances.
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One afternoon, at the local bakery, an elderly woman with silver hair named Clara noticed Lily tugging nervously at her hat. Clara knelt down to Lily's eye level and smiled warmly. ""That’s a very stylish hat, little one,"" Clara said gently. ""But the breeze down by the pier feels wonderful on a warm day like this.""
Lily blinked, surprised by the lack of pity or judgment in the woman's eyes. Later that day, while sitting on a wooden bench watching sea gulls, Lily slowly pulled off her hat. The cool sea breeze swept over her skin, and for the first time in weeks, Lily giggled.
