Chapter 126
A faint smile played at Harrison’s lips, making his Adam’s apple twitch ever so slightly. He knew exactly who Adrian meant by “her.”
The moment he realized his ex–wife was the subject of someone else’s attention, anger flared hot and fast–then quickly faded, replaced by a far more enduring sense of disgust.
Harrison looked up, his gaze settling on the old oak tree not far away. Its gnarled roots twisted across the ground, and its thick canopy cast broad shadows over the churchyard of Serenity Church. This was the Whispering Oak, a tree that had watched over countless generations. Dozens of red ribbons–each one inscribed with a wish–fluttered from the branches, alongside a cascade of wooden wish tags dangling like wind chimes.
Whenever a breeze rustled through, the wish tags clinked gently together, their soft music carrying across the courtyard.
“She comes here every year, you know,” Harrison told Adrian, a mocking note in his voice. “Prays at Serenity Church, pours her heart out–yet not a single wish has ever
come true.”
He treated it like a joke, something to share for a laugh.
Just then, Dames came running up, calling out, “Dad! I don’t want the protection
candle she lit for me! I don’t want it!”
His small fists were clenched tight. Earlier, inside the church, he’d spotted a prayer tag with both his and Daph’s names written on it. The sight had made his skin
crawl.
He’d marched up to Father Benedict and demanded an explanation.
Father Benedict had simply said, “Selene lights a protection candle for you and your sister every year, prays for your safety.”
“That woman isn’t my mom anymore! Daph doesn’t even have the same last name as me! I don’t want my name next to hers!” Dames shot back, his face flushed with indignation.
He turned to Harrison, insisting, “Tell Father Benedict to blow out my candle! Erase my name!”
Father Benedict sighed, troubled by the boy’s anger. “Young master, your mother’s prayed for you every year, always lighting a candle for your safety. If you snuff it
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out now, her blessings won’t be able to protect you anymore.”
Dames ignored him, stubborn as ever. “I want it gone! She’s so dumb and clueless–I don’t want her looking out for me!”
Felicity, eyes sparkling with amusement, couldn’t help but chime in. “Selene’s always been superstitious, always running around with her prayers and rituals, as if that would help. If Dames doesn’t want the candle, Father, just let him be. We Vaughns aren’t the superstitious type.”
Father Benedict pursed his lips, thinking that if they didn’t believe in this, what were they doing at Serenity Church? If you’re here for the tour, the gift shop’s that way.
Still, with all the generous donations the Vaughn family made each year, he
swallowed his irritation.
“Mr. Vaughn,” he said to Harrison, deliberately ignoring Felicity, “I wouldn’t advise extinguishing the boy’s protection candle.”
“Dad!” Dames pleaded.
Harrison’s answer was cold and final. “Let him do as he wants.”
Father Benedict sighed and turned away–only to see a little girl carrying a woman on her back, entering the church.
Selene’s arms were draped over Daph’s shoulders as she walked behind her daughter, letting Daph take her weight and steady her. Daph gripped Selene’s arms tightly, half–carrying her mother with surprising strength for such a small child.
Selene was slightly out of breath, shuffling awkwardly. She’d assumed the church would be empty at this hour.
Her head bowed, long dark hair falling like a curtain, she smiled as she chatted softly with Daph. When she finally glanced up, she instinctively searched for Luke Holloway among the faces.
But it was Harrison she saw standing tall on the steps, his presence commanding and cold. The smile faded from her face instantly.
Just her luck.
Why was he here?
“Mr. Shaw!”
Daph’s attention, however, was drawn not to her father, but to Adrian. The moment she spotted Adrian, her face lit up with a dazzling grin, revealing a row of pearly
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baby teeth.
Still weak, Selene was half–carried as Daph eagerly steered them toward Adrian.
“Mr. Shaw, you’re here to light a candle, too?”
Harrison’s gaze followed Daph as she walked right past him, not sparing her father a single glance.
Adrian’s smile was warm. “That’s right, Daph. Are you here to say a prayer as well?”
Daph nodded enthusiastically, clearly delighted to see him.
Father Benedict recognized Selene at once, not realizing she and Harrison were now divorced.
“Mrs. Vaughn,” he said gently, “your son would like his protection candle extinguished. Perhaps you could talk to him?”
