Semua Bab WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK: Bab 141 - Bab 143

Elara moved in a small way, her nose wrinkling as if she'd heard, before once again relaxing against her mother's chest. Vandaulf, perched at the edge of the hospital bed, slid an arm around them both, wordless and motionless, as though he was afraid to risk even the slightest movement lest it break the delicate perfection of the moment.Outside, the gentle twilight colored the room pink. The world outside the hospital walls thrummed along—cars speeding, people living—but in this room, time was different. Sluggish. Gentle.Brenna sat with Helena on the couch, their fingers laced as they observed the young family in front of them. "Remember?" Brenna asked softly. "When Lily was this little?"Helena nodded, eyes watery. "And now she's a mother. Life really does come full circle.""You were right," Brenna breathed, looking at Helena through a soft smile. "The next generation of drama has arrived."Helena laughed between her tears. "And we wouldn't have it any other way."Vandaulf kissed

"And yet you weep longer," Lily teased, cocking an eyebrow.Vandaulf slapped a hand over his chest. "Because I am sensitive. Like an artist.""An artist of melodrama," Helena growled, sipping more tea."Don't pretend like you weren't about to cry when Elara blinked at you yesterday," Vandaulf smiled."She winked," Helena said. "That's different. It was full of promise."Lily laughed, her heart expanding as she observed the tableau before her—her daughter in Brenna's arms, Helena adjusting a blanket corner, and Vandaulf observing them all as if he couldn't believe he was among this crazy, loving chaos.“She’s so lucky,” Lily whispered to herself.Vandaulf looked at her, catching the softness in her eyes. “We’re the lucky ones.”She smiled, her hand reaching out as a matter of course to stroke Elara's tiny foot as it projected past the edge of the blanket.Brenna's voice was a soothing lullaby now. "Don't you fret, dear Elara. Nana will go herself and talk each and every one of those vac