Chapter 6 - The Sunshine HouseOne Year Later.
The warm May sunshine streamed through the wide bay windows of our backyard, washing over the lush green grass and blooming rosebushes.
It was Brynn’s sixth birthday.
The backyard was filled with laughter, colorful balloons, a large bounce house near the garden fence, and twelve little kindergarten kids running around playing tag.
A giant wooden banner hung across the patio reading: HAPPY 6TH BIRTHDAY, BRYNN!
Greg—Tabitha’s ex-husband—sat on the patio bench talking warmly with Uncle Arthur. He had brought Peyton over for the party. Peyton, no longer forced to act like a spoiled princess to earn her mother’s conditional love, was happily running around in plain sneakers, playing tag with Brynn and her school friends, laughing freely under the afternoon sky.
I stood near the outdoor refreshment table, setting down a large tray of fresh fruit and watermelon lemonade.
My phone buzzed in my apron pocket.
I pulled it out. It was a text message from an unknown number—a brief, desperate attempt from Celeste using a prepaid phone:
“Anya, please. It's my birthday next week. Can I just see Brynn for ten minutes? I live alone now. No one visits me. Please, we are blood.”
I looked at the message for three seconds.
Then I looked across the sunny lawn.
I saw Brynn laughing as she held Peyton’s hand, both girls jumping together on the lawn, their faces glowing with pure, unburdened joy. I saw Uncle Arthur handing Greg a slice of birthday cake, both men chatting like real family. I felt the warm May breeze on my face, clean and completely free of toxic shadows.
I didn't scream. I didn't get angry.
I simply tapped the screen, permanently blocked the number, and slid the phone back into my pocket.
"Mommy! Look!" Brynn called out, running across the grass toward me, her face flushed with excitement, holding a giant yellow dandelion she had picked near the oak tree.
"What do you have there, baby?" I asked, dropping to my knees so I was eye-level with her.
"I made a wish!" Brynn beamed, holding the fluffy yellow blossom up between us.
"Did you?" I smiled, wrapping my arms around her warm, little shoulders. "What did you wish for?"
Brynn leaned in close, her warm breath smelling like strawberry cake, and whispered into my ear:
"I wished that every day could be sunshine like this."
May you like
I kissed her forehead softly, pulling her close against my heart, listening to the peaceful sound of children’s laughter filling our backyard under the bright, clear Ohio sky.
"Your wish came true, my sweet girl," I whispered back. "It's always going to be sunshine now."
