Dahlia and the Garden of Light - Chapter 72: Chapter 72
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Theo, Christian, and Eliot sat on the garden steps with Orchid playing nearby. The moonlight caught in her dark hair as she chased fireflies, her laughter echoing like wind chimes.
“She’s doing better,” Theo noted.
“Yeah,” Eliot said. “She even calls Christian ‘Sir Vines-a-lot’ now.”
Christian groaned. “I told her one vine trick and now I’m a walking plant pun.”
They all laughed softly, the grief of the funeral still lingering but softened by the sound of life returning.
Dahlia stood by the window, watching Orchid spin under the stars.
“She’s part of us now,” she said quietly.
Antonio stood beside her. “So is Lina. So are you.”
Dahlia smiled faintly. “Even the broken parts?”
“Especially those.”
Later That Night – Anderson Estate
The car rolled quietly into the gravel driveway. The garden lights glowed in warm pools across the lawn.
Eliot greeted them at the door. “We were about to start dessert without you.”
Jack raised a brow. “How scandalous.”
Theo appeared from the kitchen carrying a tray of flower-shaped cookies. “Well, Amy’s the one who makes the sugar flowers, so we decided to wait.”
Amy smiled—tired, but sincere. “Thanks, Theo.”
Orchid popped up from under a blanket fort near the fireplace. “Amy! We made a dragon out of pillows! Want to see?”
Amy glanced at Jack, then back at the waiting fort. “More than anything.”
—
Later – Around the Fireplace
The whole Anderson family gathered, a rare thing in itself. Antonio sat with a book open in his lap. Dahlia leaned against the window ledge, humming softly. Markus wasn’t far behind her, half-dozing with his arm slung across the back of a chair. Orchid was tucked between Eliot and Christian, one hand still clutching Marshmallow the rabbit.
Amy sat beside Jack on the floor, wrapped in a soft shawl. For a moment, she let the warmth of the fire and the sound of quiet laughter wash over her.
William’s absence was still felt — but somehow not as a void. More like a flame passed from palm to palm, warming each of them differently.
Theo leaned over. “You alright?”
Amy nodded slowly. “Yeah. It’s strange.”
“What is?”
“Realizing you’re home… and not feeling like you have to earn it.”
Theo offered her a soft smile. “That’s what William wanted. That we each find our root.”
“And grow however crooked we need to,” Christian added.
Orchid giggled. “I’m going to grow like a sunflower. With sparkles.”
Everyone chuckled.
Jack whispered to Amy, “See? Sunflowers and firelight. You belong here.”
Amy glanced around, eyes lingering on each of them.
“I know,” she said. “I really know.”
“She’s doing better,” Theo noted.
“Yeah,” Eliot said. “She even calls Christian ‘Sir Vines-a-lot’ now.”
Christian groaned. “I told her one vine trick and now I’m a walking plant pun.”
They all laughed softly, the grief of the funeral still lingering but softened by the sound of life returning.
Dahlia stood by the window, watching Orchid spin under the stars.
“She’s part of us now,” she said quietly.
Antonio stood beside her. “So is Lina. So are you.”
Dahlia smiled faintly. “Even the broken parts?”
“Especially those.”
Later That Night – Anderson Estate
The car rolled quietly into the gravel driveway. The garden lights glowed in warm pools across the lawn.
Eliot greeted them at the door. “We were about to start dessert without you.”
Jack raised a brow. “How scandalous.”
Theo appeared from the kitchen carrying a tray of flower-shaped cookies. “Well, Amy’s the one who makes the sugar flowers, so we decided to wait.”
Amy smiled—tired, but sincere. “Thanks, Theo.”
Orchid popped up from under a blanket fort near the fireplace. “Amy! We made a dragon out of pillows! Want to see?”
Amy glanced at Jack, then back at the waiting fort. “More than anything.”
—
Later – Around the Fireplace
The whole Anderson family gathered, a rare thing in itself. Antonio sat with a book open in his lap. Dahlia leaned against the window ledge, humming softly. Markus wasn’t far behind her, half-dozing with his arm slung across the back of a chair. Orchid was tucked between Eliot and Christian, one hand still clutching Marshmallow the rabbit.
Amy sat beside Jack on the floor, wrapped in a soft shawl. For a moment, she let the warmth of the fire and the sound of quiet laughter wash over her.
William’s absence was still felt — but somehow not as a void. More like a flame passed from palm to palm, warming each of them differently.
Theo leaned over. “You alright?”
Amy nodded slowly. “Yeah. It’s strange.”
“What is?”
“Realizing you’re home… and not feeling like you have to earn it.”
Theo offered her a soft smile. “That’s what William wanted. That we each find our root.”
“And grow however crooked we need to,” Christian added.
Orchid giggled. “I’m going to grow like a sunflower. With sparkles.”
Everyone chuckled.
Jack whispered to Amy, “See? Sunflowers and firelight. You belong here.”
Amy glanced around, eyes lingering on each of them.
“I know,” she said. “I really know.”
End of Dahlia and the Garden of Light Chapter 72. Continue reading Chapter 73 or return to Dahlia and the Garden of Light book page.