Chapter 17 - The Morning Coffee
|
Waking up without the suffocating weight of dread was an entirely new experience for Richard. For the last two years, mornings in the city were defined by loud traffic, the frantic buzzing of his corporate phone, and the terrifying uncertainty of what mood his ex-wife would be in when she finally woke up.
But here, the silence was profound.
Richard walked into the kitchen at six in the morning, wearing comfortable sweatpants and a simple grey t-shirt. The sun was just beginning to peek over the rolling green hills, casting a pink and orange glow across the horizon. Clara was already awake, standing by the stove as the coffee percolator hissed gently.
āGood morning, Mr. Sterling,ā Clara said quietly, pouring a steaming cup of dark roast and sliding it across the butcher block toward him.
āGood morning, Clara. And please, out here, just call me Richard.ā
Clara smiled warmly, taking a sip from her own mug.
āIt is so quiet here, Richard,ā she noted, looking out the window at the dew-covered grass. āI walked the perimeter of the gardens this morning. No sirens. No yelling. Just the birds.ā
āIt takes some getting used to,ā Richard admitted, wrapping his hands around the warm ceramic mug. āI keep waiting for the other shoe to drop. I keep waiting for my phone to ring with my lawyer telling me there has been another emergency filing.ā
āYou must let that fear go,ā Clara advised gently, her tone motherly and stern all at once.
āThe judgeās ruling was absolute. She has no legal right to come within a hundred miles of Leo. You won the war, Richard. Now, you must permit yourself to enjoy the peace.ā
āYou are right, Clara,ā Richard sighed, feeling the last knots of tension in his shoulders slowly begin to untangle.
May you like
āLeo slept through the entire night,ā Clara added happily. āNo nightmares. No waking up crying. He feels secure here.ā
Richard looked toward the hallway that led to his sonās bedroom. He took a long, satisfying sip of his coffee. The war was indeed over. It was time to start living.
