Chapter 13
Every morning, Savannah followed the same quiet ritual–carefully wiping down her sister’s memorial plaque before she stepped out the door.
Today was no different.
As she stepped outside, neighbors greeted her with warm smiles and casual waves. For the first time in a long while, something like peace settled across her face.
Since moving here with her mother, tucked away in the quiet town of Laurel Creek, life had felt gentler. The people were kind, the landscape healing. It wasn’t much–but it was enough to start stitching their shattered lives back together.
Still, the pain never left.
The memory of Emily clung to her like a shadow, silent and sharp. And just as her thoughts started spiraling, a warm hand landed gently atop her head.
Savannah looked up to find her mother gazing down with soft eyes.
“There’s someone I want you to meet today,” Helen said with a small smile.
“Someone?” Savannah blinked in surprise. “Here?”
They had chosen this place precisely because it was quiet, anonymous. Who would possibly come looking for them?
Helen didn’t answer. She only smiled, a little too knowingly.
They walked together to the small bookstore they’d scraped their savings together to open–Laurel Creek Books. But before Savannah even stepped fully inside, a blur of motion lunged toward her.
A woman wrapped her in a fierce hug before she could even see her face.
“Oh my god, look at you!” the woman beamed. “You’ve grown so much!”
“I used to carry you when you were this small–you don’t remember me?”
Savannah stiffened in surprise, then slowly lifted her head. The woman’s features came into focus–age had softened her, but the elegance remained.
“Aunt Carol…?” she asked cautiously.
Carol Carter lit up with delight and cupped Savannah’s face, gently pinching her cheeks. “There she is. My little Savannah. Prettier than ever.”
Savannah flushed, not used to the praise.
Carol had been her mom’s childhood friend. They’d lived next door to each other for years, raising their kids side by side.
Savannah remembered spending countless afternoons at Carol’s home with her younger sister. Carol always treated the two of them like her own.
She’d only been able to have one child- Emily as her own if she’d had the chance.
-a boy–due to health complications. But she often said she would’ve raised Savannah and
Her son had been a few years older, always a little gruff and quiet. But protective. Every time the three of them got into trouble, it was always him who stepped up and took the fall.
Carol glanced around now, suddenly remembering something. “Where’s Emily? I brought her favorite candy–she still love those, right?”
Savannah’s chest tightened.
A shadow flickered through her eyes, and she looked over at her mother–whose eyes had turned glassy.
Chapter 13
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“I’ll give you two some time,” Savannah said softly, her voice catching as she stepped back.
Carol studied her face, concern dawning. But she didn’t push. She just pulled Savannah in for another hug and whispered, “Good girl.”
“It’s okay. I’m staying here for a while. I’ll be here for your mom.”
Savannah gave a grateful nod and slipped outside.
She hadn’t gotten far when she heard shouting nearby. Her steps slowed.
Up ahead, a man had a woman pinned in his arms, ignoring her protests. She cursed and shoved, but he only grew angrier—and slapped her hard across the face.
Chapter 11
