chapter 197 Caleb's Letter

chapter 197 Caleb's Letter
 Lyra's POV

The drive to Joey's farm took us through winding country roads lined with oak trees showing the first hints of autumn color. Elena sat in her car seat between Joey and me, chattering excitedly about everything she saw.

"Look, Mama! Those cows are so fluffy!" she pointed at Highland cattle grazing in a distant field. "Can we get fluffy cows at our house?"

"Those aren't fluffy cows, sweetheart," I said with a smile. "That's just their winter coats growing in."

Joey remained quiet throughout the journey, her hands resting protectively on her rounded belly.

"Are you sure you're ready for this?" I asked quietly as we turned down the gravel drive.

Joey took a deep breath. "I have to be. I can't keep avoiding it forever."

She'd been back in Silver Moon territory for months now, but had never visited the farm Caleb had bought for her. Yesterday, she'd finally invited Elena and me to accompany her.

The farm appeared around a bend—a charming English cottage with honey-colored stone walls and a weathered slate roof. Climbing roses wound around the front porch supports, and mature lavender bushes lined the walkway.

"It's beautiful," I breathed.

Elena pressed her face against the window. "It looks like a fairy tale house! Can we go inside? Can we see the horses?"

"There aren't any horses yet, little one," Joey said softly. "But maybe someday."

Joey sat for a moment, gathering courage before opening the car door. Her hands trembled as she pulled out the keys the estate lawyer had given her months ago.

The front door opened into a cozy living room with exposed wooden beams and a stone fireplace. Elena began exploring immediately, her excited voice echoing through the rooms, but I watched Joey move through the space like she was afraid to disturb anything.

"He had excellent taste," I said gently as we entered the upstairs area.

"He always did," Joey whispered.

We moved through the house slowly, Joey touching surfaces hesitantly. The upstairs held three bedrooms, the largest clearly the master suite.

It was in that bedroom that Joey finally broke down.

On the antique dresser beneath a window overlooking the gardens sat an envelope with her name written in Caleb's careful handwriting.

"He left me a letter," she whispered, tears already streaming down her face.

Inside was a single sheet of paper:

My dearest Joey,

If you are reading this, then the worst has happened and I am no longer with you. But please know that even in death, my love for you and our child remains as strong as ever.

I knew when I left for this war that many of us would not return. I bought this farm not just as a gift, but as a promise. A promise that no matter what happened to me, you would always have a place that was yours, where you could raise our child in safety and happiness.

Build the life we dreamed of here. Plant the flowers you love, raise the horses you've always wanted, and know that every sunset you watch from these windows, I am watching it with you.

All my love, always,
Caleb

Joey's sobs filled the quiet room as she clutched the letter to her chest. I wrapped my arms around her as she grieved for the future that had been stolen from them.

"He knew," she cried. "He knew he might not come back, and he still planned all of this for me."

My own eyes filled with tears, both for Joey's pain and for the echo it created in my own heart. Here she was, grieving for a love that had been cut short, while I was facing the possibility that Dorian might never wake up. Both of us were carrying children who might grow up without their fathers.

Elena, sensing the sadness despite not understanding its source, climbed up between us and began telling one of her rambling four-year-old stories about mice living in the kitchen walls.

"And the mama mouse has a baby mouse too," Elena said solemnly, patting Joey's belly. "And they live happily ever after because that's what mamas and babies do."

Joey laughed through her tears. "Is that so?"

"Yes," Elena said with certainty. "Daddy told me that families find ways to be happy even when sad things happen. And this house wants to be happy, I can tell."

Looking at Elena's earnest face, then at Joey's tear-stained but slightly brighter expression, I felt a shift in my own perspective. We had both lost so much, but we had also gained something precious. And maybe, just maybe, there was still hope for Dorian.

"You're right, sweetheart," I said to Elena, then looked at Joey. "This place does want to be happy. And maybe it's time we started working toward that."

Joey wiped her eyes and looked around the bedroom. "I could put a crib right there by the window," she said thoughtfully. "So the baby could watch the sunrise."

"And we could plant a garden in the spring," I added. "Elena would love helping with that."

"Can we get the fluffy cows?" Elena asked hopefully.

"Maybe not cows," Joey said with a small smile, "but definitely some animals. This place is meant to be lived in."

As we prepared to leave, Joey took one last look around the house Caleb had built for their dreams.

"I'm going to move here," she said quietly. "Not immediately, but soon. After the baby is born. This is where Caleb wanted us to be."

I squeezed her hand. "And we'll help you. Elena and I can visit all the time."

"And when Daddy wakes up, he can visit too!" Elena added cheerfully.

When, not if. My four-year-old daughter had more faith than I did sometimes.

As we drove back toward Silver Moon territory, I found myself making a decision. I had been relying too heavily on others to find a cure for Dorian's condition—the Shadow Pack researchers, doctors, specialists, even witches we'd consulted. But I had medical training, access to my parents' research, and the motivation that only love could provide.

"Joey," I said as the farm disappeared behind us, "when we get back, I'm going to start working on something."

"What kind of something?"

"A cure. For Dorian. I've been letting other people lead the research, but I think it's time I got more involved personally."

"You know I'll help you however I can. I might not be able to do much with this," she gestured to her belly, "but my mind still works fine."

"I was hoping you'd say that."

The road home stretched ahead of us, and I felt a renewed sense of purpose. I was going to find a way to bring Dorian back to us, and Joey was going to build the life she and Caleb had dreamed of.