Chapter 10 - The Hallway Stayed Warm
And it was the long marble hallway, once cold and terrifying, filled years later with the sound of two children racing sock-footed over the runner rug.
Ava was twelve then.
Oliver was five.
He chased her with the repaired stuffed rabbit held over his head like a flag.
“You’re too slow!” Ava shouted.
“I’m little!” Oliver yelled back.
Nathaniel stood by the arched front door, watching rain slide down the leaded-glass windows.
Not a violent storm now.
Just spring rain.
Ava stopped near him, breathless and laughing.
Then she noticed where he was looking.
For a moment, both of them remembered.
The marble.
The cold.
The belt.
The white blanket.
Nathaniel opened his hand.
Ava took it.
Not because she was afraid.
Because she wanted to.
Oliver crashed into both of them, wrapping his arms around Nathaniel’s leg.
“Family hug!”
Ava groaned.
“You’re sticky.”
“I had jam.”
Nathaniel laughed, pulling them both close.
May you like
Outside, rain tapped the glass.
Inside, the hallway stayed warm.
