The Neighbor

Chapter 58

Four Months Later – July
The sweltering heat of July had settled over your old home like a heavy blanket, but the familiarity of it brought a sense of comfort that you had been missing for so long. The house, nestled among tall trees that provided a protective canopy, was the place where you had once built your life together, before everything had been upended by the chaos and danger that forced you to seek refuge in the compound. Now, after everything you had been through, you were back, and it felt like you were finally returning to the life you had been fighting so hard to protect.

Inside the house, the atmosphere was a mix of quiet contentment and the underlying hum of anticipation. The boys had adjusted remarkably well to being back home, their resilience shining through as they rediscovered the spaces they had once played in. The trauma of the past hadn't been forgotten, but here, it felt like a distant echo, something that could be managed with love and care.

You sat in the living room, a soft, comfortable chair cradling your body as you watched the boys play in the backyard through the large bay window. They were chasing each other, their laughter ringing through the air, a sound that warmed your heart. Wanda was out there with them, her eyes never leaving their small forms as she kept a watchful eye on their antics.

Your hand rested on your belly, now round and full with the life growing inside you. With just one month left until your due date, the baby had become more active in recent weeks, the movements strong and reassuring. It was as if they were as eager to meet the world as you were to meet them. You smiled softly as you felt a kick, your fingers gently tracing the spot where you had felt the tiny foot.

Wanda caught your eye through the window, her face lighting up with a smile as she waved at you. There was a serenity in her expression that hadn't been there before, a calmness that came from knowing her family was safe and that you were back in the place where so many memories had been made. She mouthed something to the boys, and they turned, grinning and waving at you excitedly before continuing their game.

The past four months had been a period of healing for all of you. The boys had slowly opened up about their fears, their nightmares, and with your help and Wanda's, they had begun to process everything that had happened. There were still moments when the past would resurface a flash of fear in their eyes, a sudden need to be close to you or Wanda but those moments were becoming fewer and further between.

Wanda had thrown herself into making this house feel like home again, creating a safe and nurturing environment for the family. She had been fiercely protective, sometimes to the point of overbearing...if you can believe that, but you understood why. The trauma of nearly losing you, of seeing her family in danger, had left deep scars on her heart. But over time, as the days grew longer and the boys  laughter filled the house, she had begun to relax, to trust that this new life you were building together could last.

You shifted slightly in your chair, your hand moving in slow circles over your belly. The baby responded with a gentle kick, and you couldn't help but smile. The boys had been so excited about the new addition to the family, constantly asking when their sibling would arrive and whether it would be a brother or a sister. You and Wanda choosing to find out at birth, wanting to keep it a surprise.

As you watched them through the window, your heart swelled with love and contentment. The road to this moment had been long and difficult, but you were here now, back in the home you had left behind, and that was all that mattered. The future was uncertain, but you knew that as long as you had Wanda and the boys by your side, you could face whatever came next.

Wanda steps inside, the door clicking softly behind her as she makes her way over to you. She leans down, pressing a kiss to your forehead before kneeling beside you, her hand resting on your belly.