The following morning brought the kind of stillness that felt borrowed. For the first time in weeks, Violet awoke to peace. The fight with her father was no longer fresh; the healing had begun. And while the weight of uncertainty still hung in the background, it no longer felt suffocating.
Adam had left a note on her kitchen counter in his ever-messy handwriting.
"Coffee's on. Went for a walk. Back soon. P.S. Your cat tried to eat my shoelaces. Again."
She smiled to herself, tucked the note into her apron pocket, and moved through the morning routine with a lightness she hadn't felt in days.
The town of Elden Bridge was slowly emerging from winter's grasp. The frost still lingered on rooftops, but the sun shone with renewed confidence. Violet made her way to the local café, "Hazel & Brew," hoping to get some air—and perhaps, some time away from the echo of too many thoughts.
As soon as she stepped inside, she was greeted with a flurry of conversation and the scent of freshly baked muffins.
"Violet!"
She turned to see Lucas—her younger brother—already halfway through a bagel and grinning mischievously.
"Oh no," she muttered. "What did you do?"
Lucas held up both hands. "Innocent until proven guilty."
"You once dyed the school's fish tank green."
"That was a protest. And it worked."
Violet slid into the booth across from him, relieved for the levity. Lucas had always been the comic relief of their family—a chaos bringer, but a loyal one.
"You look better," he said, eyeing her face. "Less murder-y."
"Thanks, I think."
"You and Adam patch things up?"
"There wasn't really anything broken. Just… bruised."
Lucas nodded, serious for a moment. "He's good for you. Even if Dad's being a dinosaur."
That made Violet laugh—really laugh.
They were interrupted by Elena, their cousin, who swept in like a snowstorm in heels. Her coat was immaculate, her tone cool.
"Violet. There's a rumor you're bringing that Carlisle boy to Sunday supper."
Violet looked up slowly. "Yes?"
"You know how Grandmother feels about his family."
"I'm not interested in Grandmother's feuds."
"Well, she's interested in yours. She's been asking if you're pregnant."
Lucas choked on his coffee.
"Elena!" Violet hissed. "That is not even remotely—"
"She said women only get bold when there's a baby or a scandal."
Violet stood up. "Thanks for the update. If you'll excuse me, I have a life to live."
Elena sniffed. "Just don't say I didn't warn you."
As Violet stormed out, Lucas followed. "Want me to trip her on the way out?"
"No, but thank you."
They parted ways near the bookstore, and Violet found Adam waiting at the corner, camera in hand.
"Bad morning?" he asked.
"Elena thinks I'm either knocked up or causing a town scandal."
Adam blinked. "Should I be congratulating you or ducking from flying casseroles?"
"Let's go with ducking."
They spent the afternoon photographing the empty orchard. Adam snapped shots of melting frost, curved branches, and Violet spinning between rows of apple trees.
Later, as dusk set in, they returned to the Hathaway house. Violet's grandmother was already in the parlor, fanning herself with an embroidered napkin.
"Adam Carlisle," she said when he entered. "Still taking photographs of weeds?"
"They're more interesting than most people," Adam replied with a smile.
Violet nearly choked, but to her surprise, her grandmother laughed.
"You've got teeth. Good."
The dinner passed with less tension than expected. Violet's father kept quiet, her mother filled silences with roast chicken and nervous laughter, and Lucas mimicked everything Grandmother did until she threatened to put him back in the cradle.
After dessert, Adam helped clear the dishes while Violet lingered at the table, talking with her mother about the bookstore.
"We're hosting a reading next week," she said. "Tessa's convinced we'll find Elden Bridge's next great poet."
Her mother smiled. "You seem happy."
"I am. It's… growing."
"And Adam?"
Violet looked at him in the kitchen, laughing at something Lucas said.
"He's staying."
That night, as they curled up on the living room couch, Adam took her hand.
"We survived dinner with your grandmother."
"We did."
"Should we tell them we're opening a joint photo gallery and poetry café?"
Violet laughed. "Let's ease them into that."
Outside, the wind stirred the trees.
Inside, the quiet felt earned.
And in that quiet, love held strong.