Chapter 10 - The Bright Horizon
The sun was beginning to dip below the horizon, painting the suburban sky in brilliant shades of violet, peach, and gold.
Delaney and I had finished cleaning the garage and were sitting side-by-side on the front porch steps, sharing a plate of warm chocolate chip cookies I had baked earlier that afternoon.
The neighborhood was quiet, filled with the gentle chirping of crickets and the distant laughter of children playing down the street.
Delaney bit into a cookie, chewing happily before looking up at me with her big, bright amber eyes.
"Mom?" she asked, her mouth slightly full.
"Yes, sweetie?"
"Are we poor now?" she asked innocently, tilting her head. "Grandma and Grandpa always said people who don't live in big houses like Aunt Chloe's are struggling."
My heart swelled with fierce, protective pride. I reached out, brushing a stray lock of dark curls out of her eyes.
"No, sweetheart," I smiled, looking out at our modest, beautiful townhouse, our blooming front garden, and the peaceful horizon stretching out before us. "We aren't struggling at all."
I pointed toward the sky, where the first bright evening star was just beginning to twinkle through the purple twilight.
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"We have everything we'll ever need," I whispered, pulling her close against my shoulder. "And nobody is ever going to make you feel like you aren't the most important person in the world."
Delaney beamed, leaning her head against my chest, completely safe, completely loved, and entirely home.
