Chapter 10 — The Living Room Returns to Peaceful Calm — Then Sammy Settles Down for an Afternoon Nap
The living room returns to a peaceful calm.
The floor is clear of the dangerous shards of blue and white porcelain.
The dustpan and broom are put away in the hallway closet.
The family agrees to secure the remaining breakables safely away from table edges.
Margaret sits quietly on the plush sofa.
She rests her hands in her lap.
She looks over at young Chloe, who is busy coloring a picture at the low wooden coffee table.
“I am truly sorry again, sweetheart,” Margaret says softly.
Chloe looks up from her coloring book.
She offers a small, forgiving smile.
“It’s okay, Grandma,” Chloe replies.
“Just don’t yell at me next time.”
Margaret lets out a gentle, self-deprecating laugh.
“I promise I won’t,” Margaret agrees.
“I learned my lesson about jumping to conclusions.”
Hannah walks in from the kitchen holding two tall glasses of ice water.
She hands one to Margaret and sets the other down on a coaster.
“Everything is cleaned up and safe,” Hannah says.
She takes a seat beside her daughter and pulls Chloe close for another quick hug.
Across the room, the afternoon sun streams brightly through the living room window.
A golden beam of light warms the center of the rug.
Sammy curls up on that exact patch of sunlight.
He rests his heavy head contentedly between his paws.
He is completely unaware of the morning’s chaos or the heated accusations he caused.
His tail gives one lazy thump against the floor.
Then his eyes drift closed for a quiet afternoon nap.
THE END