“Did you forget? I’m leaving the estate soon. I want to further my law degree. I’m going back to NY law school babes,”
I could hear the excitement in her voice. I remembered she had mentioned it during the months I worked with them, about returning to university again. I didn’t know the full details about why she quit before, but I knew it was money related issues, so she had been saving while working for Hector.
Gianna and her mother did suffer rough times in the past after the death of her father. She never liked talking about theincident, so I never pressed. But it was enough that she was pursuing her dreams once again.
“That’s great news, Congratulations on your law degree, Gianna!” My voice was warm with pride, “As for Lily’s birthday, I’ll definitely be there.”
After we hung up, I sat in my office and let myself think about New York.
I missed them so desperately it felt like a physical ache—sharp, familiar, impossible to ignore.
But going back—even just for a birthday—meant facing everything I’d been running from. Meant seeing Hector and not knowing what to say. Meant opening wounds I’d spent months trying to close.
But I knew I wanted to go.
I stepped out of my office the next morning fumbling with my keys and mentally cataloging what I needed to pack for New York. The weather would be warmer there, I’d need different clothes, maybe I should buy Lily something nice and?—
“Sarah!” I paused. I knew that voice.
But… it couldn’t possibly be. I was just hearing things. But then… it was the same voice. The same bright, unmistakable one that cut through the morning noise.
I turned around and the world stopped.
Hector and Lily. I was right.
They were standing on the sidewalk not fifteen feet away. Lily, who had screamed my name, was running now.
I caught her as she crashed into me, all momentum and emotion and tiny arms that refused to let go. Her arms wrapped around me so tight I could barely breathe but I didn’t care, couldn’t care about anything except the fact that Lily was here and solid and real.
“I missed you,” she said into my shoulder, the words muffled. “I missed you so much.”
“I missed you too, sweetheart.” My voice was shaking. “So much.”
She pulled back enough to look at me, her face bright with excitement. “I won first place in a competition. And I made so many new friends. And Daddy watches me dance every day.” She spoke every word in a rush, like she wanted us to catch up all at once.
“That’s wonderful.” I was crying now, tears streaming down my face while I tried to smile. “I’m so proud of you.”
“Will you come watch me dance sometime? Please? I’ve gotten so much better.”
“Yes. Absolutely yes.”
I looked up and saw Hector standing a few feet away, watching us. He looked different—his face had more color, his shoulders weren’t as rigid, his eyes weren’t carrying that haunted weight I’d gotten used to seeing.
He walked over slowly, his hand going to the back of his neck in that familiar gesture that meant he was nervous.
“Hi,” he said.
“Hi.”
Lily was still talking, chattering about her classes and her instructor and a new move she’d learned, but I couldn’t focus on the words. Just kept looking at Hector and trying to understand why he was here, what this meant, if I was allowed to hope.
“Lily, sweetheart,” Hector said gently. “Can you give us a minute?”
“But I have so much to tell Sarah?—”
“I know. But I need to talk to her first. Just a few minutes, okay?”
Lily looked between us and then as if something clicked in her brain, she nodded seriously and went to sit on a nearby bench, swinging her legs and humming something that sounded like her ballet music.
