Chapter 12: The Autumn Festival
By autumn, the leaves in the park turned shades of amber and gold. The town hosted its annual Autumn Festival, filled with food stalls, music, and games for children.
Jax, Clara, Lily, and Leo walked through the festive crowds together, holding hands. Leo wore a warm knitted jacket, his hand firmly intertwined with Lily’s.
""Look, Mommy! Cotton candy!"" Lily cheered, pointing toward a colorful stall.
Jax bought a large cloud of pink cotton candy for the twins to share. As the children laughed and sticky-fingered their way through the treat, Clara walked beside Jax, her arm linked through his.
They stopped near the park fountain—the very place where Leo had sat months ago with his brown paper bag. The water cascaded softly in the cool autumn air.
Clara looked at the fountain, then turned to Jax. ""I used to be so afraid of water after the accident,"" she said quietly. ""Every time I heard the sound of rushing water, my heart would freeze.""
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""And now?"" Jax asked gently.
""Now, when I look at this fountain, I don't think about the river or the flood,"" Clara smiled, looking at her children playing nearby. ""I think about the day my son sat right here and brought my family back to me.""
