“Why not bring him to the institution we’re going to create?”
“We’re going to create? You'll be doing this with me?”
“I’m in. I don’t need even a tenth of the money I have. I can easily invest it in helping these kids.”
“I’d love to run this project. But I don’t want Bruno to have to wait. The system is flawed—you said so yourself. In the meantime, while we buildTrust, he could be placed with another family. I don’t want that. I’m calling my lawyers next week. I want to give him everything he’s never had—but most of all, I want to give him back his trust in the world.”
Chapter 54
I’m sitting in an armchair in Bruno’s room while he plays on the floor.
Visiting him has become a routine—and with each visit, our bond grows stronger. There’s no doubt in my mind anymore: I want him with me, even though my lawyers have told me the process won’t be quick.
Ethan is finally returning from Africa, and I’ve decided I’ll talk to him in person about my relationship with his friend.
Though Amos’s loyalty kept him from telling me that yes, it was my brother who interfered in our relationship before, I know that’s exactly what happened.
Ethan will have to understand once and for all that I’m no longer a baby—I’m a grown woman capable of making my own decisions. And what I want is to be with Amos.
I glance at the clock and know that soon Theo will arrive with a bag of toys I ordered for Bruno. I gave him a briefsummary of my new little friend, sharing only the most basic parts of his story, but he didn’t ask for any further details.
That’s one of the things I like about him. Theo doesn’t pry like most people. If I want to talk about something, he listens and gives advice—but if I choose to keep something to myself, that’s perfectly fine with him too. No guilt trips. No pressure.
I smile as I listen to Bruno talking to himself. The boy is so curious and smart—and loves building toys. Maybe he’ll be an engineer one day.
“Angel Lilly, are you hungry?” my little man asks me. He lifts his head, setting aside the blocks he’d been playing with.
“I could go for a snack. How about you?”
“I’m not sure, but I think there’s a dinosaur in my belly. It’s growling for food so it can let me play in peace.”
I barely manage to hold back a laugh. “Oh, yes, hungry dinosaurs can be a real handful. What do you think it would like to eat?”
He looks down at his tummy, pretending to think. “I think it likes milk and cookies.”
God, he’s so clever.
“Alright. Let me call the nurse to stay with you while I go on a food hunt.”
“Lilly, I’m a big boy,” he says, rolling his eyes. “I can wait quietly. No one has to watch me.”
“Of course you are. But I’ll feel better if she keeps you company.”
“Are you sleeping here tonight?” He asks me the same question every day—and every time, my heart aches.
“I can’t, remember? I need to study. But like we promised, I’ll come back to see you.”
He holds out his pinky, and I don’t hesitate to seal our pact. “Because Lilly never lies.”
“That’s right. Lilly never lies, baby. You can trust me.”
He goes back to playing, but just as I’m about to leave the room, I hear him say softly, almost to himself, “I trust you. And Amos too.”
I’m getting ready to meet the driver when I see Theo’s car pulling into the clinic parking lot. Earlier, he dropped off the gifts and left—I wasn’t expecting him to come back for me, especially since the driver and security were already here.
I put my phone back in my purse and walk over to where my beautiful friend is standing.
“Ready, sweet thing? Did our little man like the presents?”
