Chapter 10 - A New Horizon
The evening chill began to settle over the lake, wrapping around us like a cool, gentle blanket. The sky transitioned from amber to a deep, velvety indigo peppered with the first pale dots of evening stars.
Dad reached over and gently adjusted the blanket over my cast, making sure my leg was propped comfortably. He didn't say anything for a long time, just watched the ripples fade into stillness across the water’s surface.
"I sold the engagement ring on the drive back from the parking lot," Dad said suddenly, his voice calm and resolute.
I turned my head to look at him in surprise. "You did?"
"Cancelled the jeweler's check, returned the deposit, and sold the stone back to the broker for whatever cash they'd hand over on a Sunday afternoon," he said, offering a small, ironic smile. "It felt good. Like clearing out dead weight."
"What are we going to do with the money?" I asked.
Dad looked at me, his eyes bright in the gathering twilight, clear of any distraction or hidden agenda. "Whatever you want, sweetheart. We can take that road trip out west you’ve been talking about for two years. We can buy a decent camper van, throw your wheelchair in the back, and drive until we run out of map. No photographers. No schedules. Just us."
I smiled, feeling a profound sense of lightness settle into my bones. The bruises on my palms would heal, the cast would eventually come off, and the memory of Vanessa and her obsession with perfection would fade into a distant, cautionary tale.
Right here, by the quiet lake, with the smell of pine and hot fries in the air and my father sitting right beside me, our real life was finally beginning.
May you like
"Let's do it," I said. "Next week."
Dad laughed, wrapping a warm arm around my shoulders and pulling me close as the stars came out above the water. "Next week it is."
