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Emily looked down, absently running her thumb over the rough clay.
Warmth fluttered in her chest, tinged with something she couldn’t name.
Nathan always knew when to step back, never crossing lines, never pushing.
“I’ll go change the water,” she mumbled and stood abruptly, disappearing toward the back.
In the bathroom, Emily stared at her reflection.
Three months had passed. The dark circles had faded. Her mouth no longer tightened at the corners. The bruises–inside and out–had lightened.
The sun and wind of Willow Creek had healed more than she realized.
But when Ava said, “stay forever,” Emily’s heart faltered, flooded by the faces of her children–Lucas, Lily, her precious ones, who had broken her heart.
Could she ever truly leave that pain behind?
Chapter 18
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