All Chapters of Your brother, my husband : Chapter 51 - Chapter 60

Day One at The HavenThe morning air was damp with leftover rain, the kind that settled deep in the ground and made the earth smell honest, a very natural feeling.I stepped out of the car and zipped my jacket. Overhead, clouds drifted slowly, casting long gray shadows over the rising wooden frames of The Haven.The site was busy—workers shouting measurements, the scent of fresh lumber sharp and clean, And yet, despite the noise, it felt sacred.Then I heard the second car pull in.Leona Hayes stepped out with the kind of energy that said she wants to be here, but she's still adjusting to the circumstances.Boots scuffed, hair tied back in a no-nonsense knot, hoodie layered under a cracked leather jacket. Her expression was unreadable.“You’re late,” she said.“I brought coffee,” I replied, offering her a cup.She took it wordlessly, sipped, and stared at the lodge.“Well, I see you are making Progress.”……..We walked together without touching each other, there was no side conversat

The storm was gone, leaving behind dew-laced grass and a sky the color of forgiveness. I walked slowly to the garden cabin, where Rina had stayed the night.She was sitting on the edge of the bed, hands folded in her lap, the soup bowl empty beside her.When she looked up, her eyes were tired—but no longer vacant.“Can I stay a little longer?” she whispered.My heart broke and bloomed all at once.“You can stay as long as you need.”She gave the tiniest nod.And in that moment, I knew we weren’t just building The Haven.We were becoming it and with time and patience we will definitely pull through.---Days passed.Rina didn’t speak much, but she started to move. Quietly, intentionally. She swept porches, stacked firewood, braided rope for the outdoor benches. She wasn’t trying to be seen—but she wasn’t hiding anymore either.She followed Miranda around one afternoon, helping her carry little watering cans to the flower beds. Miranda chattered endlessly while Rina just listened, the h

I stepped off the plane and inhaled deeply—like the air in this city still knew me by name. It feels good to be back home.Everything about home was smaller than Washington, but somehow heavier, more real. Here, the work didn’t echo through microphones or sit under polished lights. It whispered across garden beds and in quiet “thank yous” from women rediscovering their voices.Raymond met me at the gate with Miranda balanced on his hip.“Mommy!” she squealed.I hugged her so tight she giggled and gasped. “You came back,” she whispered into my shoulder.“Always.”“I missed you so much mummy, I have lots of gist for you,” Miranda said as she hugged me.---That night, after dinner and after enough gist about my travel experience, Miranda finally fell asleep—clutching her flower-shaped nightlight—I sat with Raymond on the porch, wrapped in one of his oversized sweaters.“You looked really beautiful up there,” he said softly.“Beautiful? I was Terrified,” I replied.“But you were powerf

Naomi's POV I didn’t sleep the night after I told Leona what happened, it was not because I was doubting my decision, but because I was already thinking ten steps ahead—blueprints, messaging, team structure, how to keep The Haven untouched while Sanborn rose beside it, how to make sure everything is legally done and it won't bother my family.In the morning, the air was still and bright, the kind of sharp cold that makes everything feel a little more alive. I stood at the porch railing watching the cabins breathe beneath early fog, thinking about how far we’d come—and how much further there was to go.I broke the news to Beatrice and Kendra first. They deserved to hear it directly.Beatrice listened in silence, her hands folded neatly on her lap, her eyes never leaving mine. When I finished, she said, “I knew this would come. You were never meant to stop growing. I just hope you don’t forget how to stay grounded and sometimes we need to make decisions not just on how we are feeling b

Naomi's POV We started the next morning with a list.Leona sat across from me at the conference table, tying her curls into a tight knot as I spread the Sanborn materials across the surface.“We need three things before we go near Elijah Cross,” she said. “Legal cover, political leverage, and someone he doesn’t see coming.”I nodded, already making notes. “Beatrice knows people in planning and zoning. I’ll talk to her today. We need the Sanborn land frozen—no sudden transfers.”“I’ll talk to Kendra,” Leona added. “She’s still got friends in investigative journalism. Quiet ones.”“And Rachel?” I asked.Leona’s jaw ticked. “Keep her busy. Just not involved in this.”I didn’t argue.While Leona made calls, I sat down with Beatrice in the small staff kitchen.She listened carefully, then opened her planner and pulled out a business card. “City registrar owes me a favor. He can flag that land for public interest. Temporary hold. Give you some breathing room.”“What do I say to him?”“Noth