The Shield of Cedar

At 6:00 PM, Hannah was officially discharged from the hospital with orders for strict bed rest and total removal from all stressors.

Lucas brought her home, helped her into comfortable flannel clothes, and settled her in the living room with hot chamomile tea.

Over the next four hours, Lucas packed their life.

He did not pack the designer suits Evelyn had bought him for charity galas. He did not pack the antique silver or the crystal decanters.

He packed three suitcases of essential clothing, Hannah’s maternity supplies, the disassembled white wooden baby crib, his master woodworking tools, and their laptops.

At 11:30 PM, Lucas carried Hannah out to their four-wheel-drive station wagon, reclining the passenger seat with plush pillows and wool blankets.

""Where are we going, Lucas?"" Hannah asked softly, looking at the dark road ahead.

Lucas climbed into the driver’s seat, starting the engine, and took her hand in his warm, steady palm.

""We are going to my grandfather’s orchard in Maine, Hannah,"" Lucas said, his voice clear, calm, and full of quiet authority. ""He left that land solely to me ten years ago because he knew my mother would try to steal it. There are no Vance trusts there. No gates. No lawyers. Just fresh air and clean water.""

As the station wagon turned onto Interstate 95 North, crossing the Connecticut state line, Hannah placed her hand over her abdomen.