Chapter 10: The Treehouse of Promises
When spring arrived, painting the backyard in shades of emerald green and blooming lilac, David took two weeks off work to start a major outdoor project.
In the crook of an ancient, sprawling white oak tree at the edge of their lawn, David, Mason, and Chloe began building a multi-story treehouse.
David taught Mason how to measure cedar planks with a tape measure and safely use a cordless drill. Chloe was the designated "Chief of Painting," using bright blue and green acrylics to decorate the window frames and birdhouses.
For fourteen days, the backyard resonated with the sound of hammering, sawing, and joyful laughter.
When the treehouse was finished, it featured a wrap-around wooden deck, a rope ladder, glass windows that caught the afternoon breeze, and a brass plaque mounted above the doorway that read: The Fortress of the Brave.
On the final evening of construction, the three of them sat on the treehouse porch, swinging their legs over the edge as the sun dipped below the horizon, bathing the valley in amber light.
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"Dad?" Mason asked, leaning his head against David’s shoulder. "Are we going to be okay forever?"
David wrapped his arms around both of his children, feeling the steady, rhythmic warmth of their presence. "We are more than okay, Mason. We are unbroken."
