Chapter 10 - THE MORNING SUNLIGHT
An hour later, the bright morning sun reached its peak over Long Island Sound, casting brilliant, golden light across the high, coffered ceilings of the Cole estate's private breakfast room.
The heavy, suffocating quiet that had governed the mansion for four years was officially dead.
At the head of the long mahogany dining table sat Adrian Cole. He had removed his suit jacket, rolled his white Italian cotton shirt sleeves up to his forearms, and set his digital tablet face-down on the sideboard, completely ignoring his board calls.
Sitting beside him in a high, cushioned chair was Nora. She had refused to take off her oversized navy tie, which now rested across her lap as she happily used a silver spoon to eat pancakes covered in fresh berries and maple syrup. In her left hand, sitting right beside her plate, was James's gold nautical pocket watch, ticking softly against the linen tablecloth.
Sitting across from them was Emma, wearing a soft cream cashmere sweater provided by the house staff, her brown hair falling naturally over her shoulders, her dark eyes bright and free from anxiety for the first time in her life.
Nora picked up a strawberry with her fingers, held it up toward Adrian, and gave that exact same tiny, sharp tug to her left sleeve cuff.
"Uncle Adrian," Nora demanded with her adorable executive authority. "Eat the strawberry."
Emma let out a soft, beautiful laugh—a sound that filled the sunlit room with natural warmth.
Adrian didn't hesitate. He leaned over, took the strawberry from her tiny fingers, and chewed it with a warm, genuine smile that reached all the way to his eyes, the crease beside his left eye glowing in the daylight.
May you like
He looked across the table at Emma, then down at his niece, feeling a profound, quiet peace settle into his soul. The loss of his brother would always linger, but the shadow was gone. James had left behind a light—a fearless, cheerful, four-year-old light that had marched into his grand foyer in an oversized tie and taught him how to live again.
Adrian reached out, his large hand gently patting Nora’s shoulder, before picking up his glass of fresh juice and looking out the tall arched windows at the bright, open sky over Connecticut, ready for the future.
