Chapter 366: Tragic masterpiece
The soft light of dawn filtered through the curtains as Blake stirred from his slumber. He glanced over at Rose, still peacefully asleep, her chest rising and falling with gentle breaths. A smile tugged at his lips as he carefully extricated himself from the covers, determined not to wake her.
Padding quietly down the stairs, Blake made his way to the kitchen. The events of the past few weeks felt like a distant nightmare now, and he was eager to start this new day on a positive note. He pulled out pans and ingredients, intent on preparing a celebratory breakfast for his newly recovered wife.
As he whisked eggs and sliced fruit, Blake hummed softly to himself. The kitchen soon filled with the enticing aroma of coffee brewing and bacon sizzling. He arranged everything on a tray with meticulous care, adding a small vase with a single wildflower he'd plucked from the windowsill herb garden.
Balancing the laden tray, Blake ascended the stairs, his heart light with anticipation. As he reached the landing, however, he noticed Celena's bedroom door was ajar. Curious, he approached, only to find Rose standing motionless in the doorway.
"Rose?" he called softly, nudging the door wider with his shoulder. "Is everything okay?"
For a moment, Rose didn't respond. Then, as if snapping out of a trance, she turned to face him. "Oh, Blake," she said, her voice oddly distant. "I was just... staring at the beauty we created."
Blake's brow furrowed slightly. "Is Celena alright?"
Rose blinked, then smiled. It was a warm, genuine expression that immediately dispelled any unease Blake might have felt. "She's perfect," Rose assured him. "Still sound asleep. I just couldn't help but watch her for a moment."
Relaxing, Blake returned her smile. "I made us breakfast," he said, gesturing with the tray. "Thought we could celebrate your recovery."
Rose's eyes lit up. "That smells wonderful," she said, leaning in to kiss his cheek. "Let's eat in bed. We can wake Celena after."
They retreated to their bedroom, settling comfortably against the headboard as Blake set the tray between them. As they ate, they talked and laughed, reminiscing about happier times and making plans for the future.
"We should take a family trip," Rose suggested, sipping her coffee. "Somewhere Celena's never been."
Blake nodded enthusiastically. "That's a great idea. Maybe that cabin by the lake you've always wanted to visit? It's remote enough that we wouldn't have to worry about the sun affecting you and Celena."
As they continued to chat, a small voice piped up from the doorway. "Mommy? Daddy?"
They looked up to see Celena rubbing her eyes sleepily, her favorite stuffed wolf tucked under one arm.
"Good morning, sweetheart," Rose said, holding out her arms. "Come join us."
Celena's face lit up, and she scrambled onto the bed, nestling between her parents. Blake ruffled her hair affectionately. "How about some breakfast, kiddo?"
The little girl nodded eagerly, and soon the family was sharing the meal, with Celena sneaking extra bits of bacon when she thought her parents weren't looking.
As the morning wore on, they decided to make the most of the overcast day. Rose and Celena were still sensitive to sunlight, but the cloud cover provided enough protection for them to venture outside.
They spent hours in the garden, with Blake and Rose helping Celena tend to her beloved flowers. The little girl took her gardening duties very seriously, carefully watering each plant and pulling tiny weeds.
"Look, Mommy!" Celena exclaimed, pointing to a rosebud. "It's going to bloom soon!"
Rose knelt beside her, examining the bud. "You're right, sweetie. You've done such a good job taking care of it."
As Celena beamed with pride, Blake watched his wife and daughter, his heart swelling with love. This was everything he'd fought for, everything he'd feared he might lose.
Later, as the clouds began to thin, they retreated indoors. Blake suggested a board game, and soon they were engrossed in a heated round of Candyland, with Celena gleefully sending her parents back several spaces at every opportunity.
As Rose took her turn, Blake noticed a brief flicker in her expression. For just a second, her eyes seemed to darken, and a small frown creased her brow. But before he could comment, it was gone, replaced by her usual warm smile as she moved her piece across the board.
The day passed in a blur of laughter and family bonding. They built a fort in the living room, read stories together, and even attempted to bake cookies (which resulted in a flour-covered kitchen and slightly burnt, but still edible, treats).
As evening approached, Blake noticed Rose becoming quieter, her responses sometimes delayed. He attributed it to fatigue – after all, she was still recovering.
"Why don't you rest for a bit?" he suggested gently. "I'll get dinner started and look after Celena."
Rose nodded gratefully, retreating to their bedroom. Blake busied himself in the kitchen, with Celena "helping" by stirring a bowl of sauce with great enthusiasm.
When dinner was ready, Blake went to fetch Rose. He found her standing by the window, staring out into the darkening forest.
"Rose?" he called softly. "Dinner's ready."
She turned, and for a split second, Blake could have sworn her eyes were completely black. But she blinked, and they were their normal warm brown once more.
"Sorry, I must have dozed off standing up," Rose said with a small laugh. "I'm still a bit tired, I guess."
Blake wrapped an arm around her waist, placing a kiss on her temple. "That's understandable. You've been through a lot. Come on, let's get some food in you."
As they headed downstairs, Blake pushed away the nagging feeling that something wasn't quite right. Rose was back, she was healing, and they were together. That was all that mattered.
Little did he know that beneath the surface of their seemingly perfect reunion, a darkness was stirring, biding its time and gathering strength for what was to come.
****Author's note***
Next chapter has some adult scenes in it. You might want to skip if you're not into that kind of thing. Thanks..