The large dining room of the Thompson estate felt completely different tonight. The heavy, cold shadows that had filled the corners of the room for the past thirty days were totally gone.
Derek sat at the very head of the table. He was not looking at his silver plate. He was looking at his family.
To his right, Ryan was sitting in his tall wooden chair with thick cushion. The young boy was practically vibrating with happiness. He had a massive, bright smile on his face, and he kept talking endlessly about his wooden toys, his reading lessons, and the new brown horses in the stable.
Marissa sat in her usual chair next to Ryan. She looked beautiful and completely healthy. She wore a simple, elegant green evening dress. Her dark, curly hair was pinned back loosely, framing her warm face. She smiled brightly at Ryan, listening closely to every single word the boy said.
