She exhaled. "There was a time when I didn’t think I could have this kind of peace. Not after everything with Derek, not after all the uncertainty. But you... you've changed the way I see what's possible."
He leaned in, resting his forehead gently against hers. "You gave me the courage to leave the past behind. You and Chloe—you gave me a future."
Claire closed her eyes, savoring the truth in his words.
The next morning, golden sunlight spilled across the kitchen table, casting warmth over the stillness of early day. Claire arranged a bouquet of dahlias, her fingers moving with a quiet calm that matched the steady beat of her heart. Chloe and Gabe raced outside, their laughter echoing through the screen door. On the counter sat a small notepad with the beginnings of a wedding guest list, doodles curling around the edges.
At the top of the page, Claire had already penciled in one of the most important details—Gabe would walk her down the aisle. She remembered one rainy afternoon, just weeks after Derek had left, when Gabe had curled beside her on the couch, clutching his favorite blanket and whispering, “We’ll be okay, Mommy.”
In that fragile moment, it was his quiet certainty that had carried them both. Now, letting him take that walk with her felt like honoring not only his courage, but the bond they’d forged together through every storm.
He’d been the steady hand through seasons of change, the bright-eyed boy who always believed she deserved happiness. When she told him the night before, his eyes had gone wide with surprise before he hugged her tight around the waist and nodded solemnly. "I’ll be brave," he’d whispered.
Claire knew he would be. She remembered nights when it had just been the two of them—when he’d held her hand through storms, both literal and emotional. Giving him this honor felt like closing a circle only they understood.
Claire felt the weight of something new anchoring her. Not fear, not doubt—but the beauty of everything taking root. They were building a life that honored where they'd come from and where they were going.
A knock at the door drew her from her thoughts. It was her sister, Lily. She’d become woven into the rhythm of their days—volunteering at school events, sharing late-night talks over tea, and offering Claire the kind of steady, sisterly presence that had helped ground her through every high and low.
Especially while Jack had been away recently, Lily’s support had meant everything. They'd spent lazy Saturday mornings baking cinnamon rolls, afternoons wandering through the local farmers market, and cozy evenings curled up on the couch with Gabe and Chloe, playing board games and telling stories. Lily’s presence was a balm—steadfast and nurturing—a reminder that even in Jack’s absence, Claire wasn’t navigating this new life alone.
Lily stood now with a tray of cinnamon rolls and eyes full of happy tears. Behind her, neighbors carried gifts and greetings. The home buzzed with joy and celebration, a testament to the community that had become their extended family.
That evening, wrapped in a light cardigan, Claire sat on the back steps watching the kids collect shells under a sherbet sky. Jack emerged from next door with mugs of cocoa, handing her one before settling beside her.
"We should plant a garden," he said, his voice low and thoughtful, as if the idea had been growing inside him for some time. said. "A big one. Out back."
"Vegetables?"
"And wildflowers. Something for every season. Sunflowers and zinnias, thyme and lavender. The kind of place that buzzes with bees and smells like memory."
Claire smiled. "A living promise."
They clinked mugs gently.
As laughter spilled across the yard, Claire looked over the space that had become their canvas. In every corner bloomed intention. In every step forward, love was the root.
And somewhere in her heart, she felt the next chapter stirring.
Chapter Thirty-One
Jack
Thehumofconversationfilled the morning air outside the Seaview Harbor Community Clinic. The scent of fresh coffee wafted from a nearby stand, mingling with the salty tang of the sea. Jack stood beside the new Amanda Grace Wellness Wing sign, its polished surface gleaming softly in the morning light, freshly mounted and catching the golden light of sunrise. Volunteers buzzed around, arranging chairs and stringing paper lanterns along the railings. The damp wood of the boardwalk creaked underfoot, and the cool air kissed his skin.
Today marked the soft opening of the clinic's expansion, and while Jack had helped plan every detail, the reality of it all struck a quiet chord inside him.
Amanda’s parents had come down from Asheville for the ceremony, standing quietly just behind the crowd, her mother with a small bouquet of wildflowers, her father leaning slightly on a cane. Jack hadn’t expected to see them there. But when her mother hugged him tightly and whispered, "She’d be so proud of you," something shifted in him. Her father clasped his shoulder, firm and steady. "It’s good to see you smiling again, Jack. Amanda would’ve wanted that."
Emotion surged in his chest, quiet but fierce. Chloe held her grandmother’s hand, and Jack watched her smile. “Your mama would’ve loved this place,” her grandmother told her softly. “And I think she would’ve loved Claire, too.”
It reminded him of a launch day years ago in Charleston, standing in a hospital atrium as polished marble floors gleamed beneath sterile lights. That day had been full of ambition and adrenaline—but not this grounding warmth. This moment held a deeper weight, rich with meaning born from love, loss, and healing.
He glanced down at the corner of the dedication plaque, where Amanda’s name had been etched in elegant script. Chloe stood nearby, gently tracing the letters with her fingertip. Her touch made a faint scraping sound, like memory etched into metal. Jack felt the familiar ache stir in his chest, but it was no longer sharp. Today, it was laced with peace.
"She would've loved this, huh?" Chloe asked, looking up at him with curious eyes.
Jack crouched beside her. "She would. And she'd be proud of you, too."
