Chapter 11 - The Harbor Lights
The salt-laden breeze drifted off the harbor as the sun dipped beneath the rugged Maine coastline, bathing the shingled cottages in shades of amber and violet. Alexander walked alongside Claire, his hand resting lightly against the handle of the stroller. Every few steps, he glanced down at Leo, still half-convinced that the child would dissolve into mist if he looked away for too long. But Leo remained, fast asleep now, breathing in the quiet, steady rhythm of youth, his tiny face nestled beneath the woolen hood.
"You don't have to walk us all the way to the door," Claire said quietly, though there was no malice in her voice. The cold had painted a faint pink across the bridge of her nose, softening the guarded look she had worn when they first met on the shoreline.
"I know," Alexander replied, his voice rough with exhaustion and reverence. "I just wanted to make sure you got back safely. The wind is picking up."
They reached the gravel driveway of Claire’s small cottage, which sat just behind the flower shop. Warm yellow light spilled from the ground-floor windows, casting long shadows across the frost-dusted grass. The air smelled of woodsmoke and damp cedar. It was a modest place, worlds apart from the marble-floored penthouse in Manhattan where they had once lived as strangers under the same roof.
Gabriel appeared on the porch, a thick cable-knit sweater pulled over his broad frame. His piercing gaze settled on Alexander, assessing, weighing, and warning all at once. Gabriel stepped down to take the stroller, his nod to Alexander curt but not entirely dismissive. "He’s out cold," Gabriel murmured, peering into the fleece lining.
"He lasted longer than usual," Claire said, stepping up to the porch. She paused at the top step, turning back to face Alexander. The distance between them was only a few feet, yet the weight of three wasted years hung in the space.
"Where are you staying?" she asked.
"The inn by the docks," Alexander answered. "I’ll be there for as long as you let me stay in town."
Claire looked at him for a long, quiet moment, her breath misting into the night air. "Take some rest, Alexander. You look like you haven't slept in months."
May you like
Before he could answer, she stepped inside, and the heavy oak door closed softly behind her, leaving him alone beneath the cold northern stars.
***
