Chapter 17 - Dawn of a New Era
The grandfather clock in the grand hallway chimed ten times, its deep, resonant tones vibrating softly through the floorboards of the terrace. Downstairs, the clatter of plates had finally ceased, replaced by the muffled sound of the television and Leo’s laughter as Carmine recounted another exaggerated story from his days on the docks.
Fay turned her face up toward mine, the evening light catching the soft, expectant smile on her lips.
"Ready for dinner?" she asked playfully, echoing a question we had joked about earlier in the evening as a reminder of how time had slipped away from us in the warmth of the conversation.
"Always," I said, pulling her closer as we turned away from the railing and walked back inside, leaving the cool night air behind.
May you like
The heavy oak doors closed softly behind us, latching with a solid, secure click that sealed out the dark. I didn't need to look back, and I didn't need to wonder what dangers lurked beyond the gates. Whatever tomorrow brought—whether it was quiet afternoons on the lawn, new challenges to face, or simply the steady rhythm of ordinary life—we were ready for it.
The past was buried in the snow at Graceland; the present was alive in the warmth of this house; and the future was ours to write, page by clean, unwritten page.
