Part 60
The construction of the cottage on the western ridge became the beautiful centerpiece of our lives over the next several months.
Every morning, the distant, rhythmic sound of axes and hammers echoed faintly across the valley, a comforting symphony of progress.
Alexander spent hours at the site, working alongside Ethan, passing down his extensive knowledge of architecture and structural design.
It was a beautiful thing to watch them together—the seasoned protector and the young father, building a future with their own hands.
I often walked up the hill carrying large baskets of fresh lemonade, hearty sandwiches, and cool cloths for the hard-working men.
By the time the first golden leaves of autumn began to drift from the trees, the structure of the cottage was completely secure.
The stone chimney, built from river rocks that Sofia and I had collected, rose proudly against the backdrop of the blue sky.
The large glass windows had been installed, reflecting the dramatic, fiery colors of the changing season like a beautiful painting.
One afternoon, as I stood inside the unfinished living room, smelling the fresh pine wood, Sofia walked up beside me.
She was carrying Maya, who was now crawling and full of a vibrant, curious energy that kept us all on our toes.
"I can already see her taking her first steps right here by the fireplace," Sofia whispered, her eyes shining with absolute joy.
She set Maya down on a thick blanket, watching as the little girl reached for a smooth block of wood with a happy chuckle.
"You've given us a life where we can think about things like fireplaces and first steps, Mom," Sofia added, her voice dropping lower.
May you like
I turned to her, pulling her into a warm, tight embrace, burying my face in her hair as I felt the deep truth of her words.
"You earned this life just as much as we did, my beautiful girl," I whispered back, holding her close against my grateful heart.
