Chapter 73: Morning in the Garden

Stefani awoke early, and the soft morning light filtered through the curtains, gently illuminating the room. Jacob lay beside her, sleeping soundly, his arm protectively cast over her middle. She smiled, not wanting to awaken him, as she slipped from the bed. The house was still in these morning hours, and she felt the garden calling her outside for fresh air and a moment of solitude.

She quickly dressed and slipped into a light sweater before tiptoeing out. The air was refreshing as she stepped outside, with the soft sounds of birds waking up, greeting the day. The garden stretched in expanse hedged with perfectly trimmed bushes and bright flowers dripping with dew. On its calming properties, the air carried the scent of jasmine.

As she walked through the garden, in a dreamy fashion, toward the far end where a small stone bench sat facing the rising sun, she saw the quiet form of a man sitting and sipping from a delicate cup of coffee. Jacob's grandfather.

She