CHAPTER 76 SPRING AWAKENING

As winter's chill gradually gave way to the first tentative warmth of spring, Jenna found herself filled with a renewed sense of purpose. The anniversary trip with Ryan had reignited a spark within her, and she was determined to nurture it into a flame. Each morning, before the rest of the house stirred, Jenna would slip out of bed and make her way to the small study they had converted from a spare room. There, surrounded by books and bathed in the soft glow of dawn, she would write. The stories that had been bubbling inside her for years now flowed onto the page, bringing to life characters and worlds she had only dreamed of sharing. Ryan, true to his word, was her biggest supporter. He would often leave little notes of encouragement on her desk, or surprise her with her favorite coffee when she emerged, bleary-eyed but satisfied, from a particularly intense writing session. One crisp Saturday morning in early April, as the first crocuses were pushing their way through the slowly t