Chapter 20: The Golden Years Ahead
Two more years passed, weaving themselves into the fabric of the family’s history. Finn was now fully grown, a majestic, eighty-pound golden retriever with a calm, wise demeanor.
It was a quiet Sunday morning. The modern, dark-toned kitchen was bathed in the warm, golden light of the sunrise. Arthur walked down the stairs, tying the belt of his bathrobe.
He didn't need to turn on the lights. He knew exactly where to go. He walked over to the large kitchen island and looked down at the dark tile floor.
Finn was lying there, stretched out luxuriously on a thick memory-foam mat that had long since replaced the cold floor and the thin blankets. The metal dog bowl nearby was full of fresh water.
Hearing Arthur’s footsteps, Finn lazily lifted his heavy head. He didn't jump up like he used to as a puppy; instead, his tail offered a steady, rhythmic thump, thump, thump against the floor.
May you like
Arthur knelt, pressing his forehead gently against Finn's warm brow. "Morning, old man," he murmured.
Eleanor and Lily's footsteps echoed from the stairs, bringing the familiar sound of laughter into the kitchen. Arthur looked up at his wife and his ten-year-old daughter, then down at the dog who had stitched their family back together. There was no more hiding. There were no more secrets in the shadows. There was only the bright, golden light of a home entirely filled with love.
