Chapter 5 – The Woman at the Garden Gate
One year later...
The Carter estate had become a place where children felt safe again.
Saturday mornings belonged to pancakes.
Sunday afternoons belonged to Sarah's garden.
And every evening, Michael made sure he was home before dinner.
No business meeting was more important than hearing Emma tell stories about school or watching Matthew explain another science project with more enthusiasm than confidence.
Some wounds never disappeared.
But they no longer controlled the house.
One bright spring morning, Emma was watering the roses when she suddenly stopped.
"Daddy?"
Michael looked up from trimming a hedge.
"Yes, sweetheart?"
"There's a lady at the gate."
Michael turned.
Standing outside the iron entrance was a woman in her late sixties, holding a small bouquet of white lilies.
She looked nervous.
Not dangerous.
Just uncertain.
The security guard approached Michael.
"Sir, she says her name is Helen Brooks."
Michael frowned.
"I don't know anyone by that name."
The woman smiled weakly.
"I knew Sarah."
Everything around him seemed to pause.
Michael walked toward the gate himself.
"You knew my wife?"
Helen nodded.
"We volunteered together at St. Mary's Children's Hospice."
Michael had never heard Sarah mention it.
"There are some things she wanted your children to have."
She carefully held out a weathered leather journal.
"I promised I would wait until they were ready."
Michael stared at the notebook.
Sarah's handwriting covered the first page.
For My Children...
May you like
When They Need Me Most.
His hands began to tremble.
