“Theycould,” I whisper, panic blooming. “What if they attack Skye? Is this safe?”
He doesn’t answer. He just slips his hand into mine, squeezing gently.
“We’re here,” he says.
And suddenly, everything else fades away.
My stomach drops, and I go quiet, taking in our surroundings.
A path stretches ahead, paved with hexagon-shaped stones, each etched with inscriptions. It leads toward a small wooden bridge, one I know opens onto the breathtaking reservoir beyond.
We’re tucked beneath tall trees and thick green foliage, muffling the city around us. Ahead, a pair of benches overlooks the path, and Nate guides us toward them.
“Dad wanted to make sure we had somewhere to sit with her,” he says softly. “They donated this bench, too.”
He helps me sit, then drops to one knee, gently brushing away a few stray leaves from a stone near my feet. It’s tucked just far enough off the path to feel private.
Camila Rosa Morales
She loved fiercely, laughed freely, and gave her whole heart. Her legacy will continue forever in those who loved her most, especially in her daughter, Claudina.
The moment I read the last line, my chest splits open. A sob escapes before I can stop it.
Nate is instantly there, pulling me into his arms, holding me steady while the wave passes through me.
I slip off my glasses to wipe my eyes, fumbling for composure, and then something comes over me. I sink down beside her memorial, settling onto the ground.
Skye curls into my lap as if she understands exactly what I need.
I trace the engraved words with the tip of my finger, reading them again. And again.
She has always lived in our hearts. She always will.
“I miss you, friend,” I whisper.
Nate stays on the bench, rubbing slow, reassuring circles into my back, giving me the space to feel without rushing me through it.
“You okay, Mads?” he asks gently.
I nod. “More than I thought I’d be.” I let out a quiet breath. “I knew I’d cry, but…”
“But?”
“I don’t know.” I glance around, taking in the trees, the quiet, the way the light filters through the leaves. “I feel…connected to her here. Settled. Maybe it’s the nature. Who knows?”
Eventually, he helps me up, and I sit next to him and rest against his shoulder.
“I wish I came more,” he murmurs.
I lift my head, surprised. “I thought you did.”
“I used to. But then Harrison made it complicated.” He hesitates, choosing his words. “When Claud got older, they started coming here a lot. Sometimes every day.” He gestures ahead. “They live close, so it’s easy for them. And they don’t just come to sit, they treat it like a shrine. Claud talks to her. Dances for her. I didn’t understand it. I didn’t think building that kind of connection to a stone in the ground was…healthy.” I stay quiet, listening. “The other brothers agreed with me, Harrison didn’t, obviously. But now…now I think I was wrong. As long as Claud feels close to Camila, that’s what matters.”
“You’re right,” I say softly. “And I love that Juliette helps keep Camila’s spirit alive, too.”
“I think it’s because of Jules that I see it differently.” He reaches into the inside pocket of his jacket. “Speaking of keeping her spirit alive…I got you something.”
He places a long, blue velvet box in my hands. I recognized the jeweler’s name instantly. The one we passed earlier in the West Village.
