Behind us, Martha’s hysterical screams echoed into the cold night air of the quiet neighborhood, quickly muffled as the heavy car door clicked shut and the powerful engine hummed to life.
As the limousine glided smoothly down the tree-lined avenue, I leaned my head against Nick’s shoulder. He squeezed my hand tightly, his fingers intertwined with mine.
Eleanor, sitting across from us, looked at both of us with a subtle, approving smile and raised her glass of champagne.
“To new beginnings,” she said leise.
I looked out the tinted rear window one last time, watching the massive, darkened mansion vanish into the distance, and then turned back to my husband.
“To new beginnings,” I replied.
My hair was short, our wedding reception had been a battlefield, but for the very first time in my life, I knew that no one would ever cut down our future again.
