Chapter 9 - Healing by the Sea
Thomas became a regular at the bakery. He never pushed, never pried into her past, though living in a small town meant he likely knew her story from the news. Instead, he talked about the sea, the migration of whales off the coast, and his own daughter, Sarah, who was eight years old—just a year older than Chloé.
One weekend, Thomas invited Élise and Chloé to visit the marine rescue center where he worked. It was a sanctuary for injured seals and sea birds.
Chloé and Sarah hit it off immediately. Watching the two girls laugh as they helped feed a baby seal, Élise felt a tight knot in her chest loosen. She looked at Thomas, who was standing beside her, watching the children with a soft expression.
"They look happy," Élise murmured.
"Children have a beautiful capacity to heal," Thomas replied softly, turning to look at her. "And so do mothers, Élise. When they allow themselves to."
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That evening, as the sun set over the rocky cliffs, painting the sky in brilliant hues of pink and gold, Thomas took Élise's hand. His grip was warm and steady—not like Julien's weak, uncertain touch, nor Martine's controlling grip. It was the hand of an equal.
Élise didn't pull away. She looked out at the vast ocean, realizing that while she would never forget Léo and Gabriel—their small photos occupied a sacred, flower-filled corner in her new home—she was finally allowed to breathe. The guilt that had haunted her for months was gone. She had fought for them, she had won justice for them, and now, they would want her to live.
