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“I never wanted to run away Uncle James, and it wasn’t all your doing, we all made a lot of mistakes. I think Wendy would be happy to know that after all this time it seems we’re all atoning for our sins.” She sniffles. Piers wraps his arm around her waist as she begins to cry, looking up at him and then over at me, offering the week smile.

‘Scarlett.” James startles me, “It seems Cohen is quite smitten with you.”

“It’s more than that.” I snip back, not appreciating his insinuating that what we have is only temporary.

“Of course, forgive me for implying otherwise. It seems you have grown into quite the business woman.” He nods with approval, and though it shouldn’t, it prides me to hear him say so.

“Thank you. Forgive me, but I just don’t understand? Cohen just visited you last week and you were unresponsive? Now you’re here calling secret meetings and the person you owe the biggest explanation to isn’t even here!” I can’t help but be upset and my tone simmers with anger and confusion.

“Ahhh, Scarlett. I had forgotten what a spitfire you were. Glad to see that some things never change.” He’s amused rather than angered at my outburst, but I don’t care how he feels about it, as long as he answers the question.

“I woke up a few days ago and I ordered the doctors not to tell anyone.” James explains.

“I’m supposed to be notified in any status changes! I’m the one who arrange for the facility.” Piers jumps in, his arms tensed at his sides.

“Thank you for that, Piers. Given how I treated you, I’m lucky that you didn’t just have them dump me in the Atlantic. They thought it best for me not to see or talk to anyone for a couple of days until they could run some test and figure out what it caused it. There’s no known damage, it appears the stress and shock on my body pushed me over the edge, while my mind was asleep my body was resting.”

He leans back in the chair and takes a sip of the glass of water in front of him, with a loud gulp.

“They think the turnaround started sometime after Cohen’s visit, and Willow’s.” He smiles at her. “Hearing a familiar voice, then hearing Cohen’s voice for the first time, knowing that he wanted to have something to do with me gave me something to fight for. It’s like I was in a fog, somethings felt like a dream, others very real. Piers, I even recall your visit. The day after they admitted me. The sadness in your voice as you demanded by sleeping body for answers to find Willow, the tears for Wendy.” He goes on and Piers lowers his head in embarrassment.

He never told me he went to see James.

Tears streak down my face as I think about all the lies, all the truths swimming in this room. The years of hurt, and the weeks of healing. wishing that Cohen were here to hear these words.

“Why isn’t he, why isn’t Cohen here?” I speak up.

“I’ve tried to find him, I was hoping maybe you could help me with that. I had eyes on him in London after I woke up, but he’s disappeared.” He explains, his voice dripping in regret.

“That’s right, he’s gone back to Scotland, to care for his mother.” I offer.

“Lucy?” James questions and Piers’s mumbling catches my attention, he has an odd look on his face.

“I’m not sure he’s never said her name, he’s very private where she’s concerned.” I find myself saying too much, regaining focus, hopefully Cohen won’t be upset with me for giving away his location, but I think he needs to talk to James.

“I would like to get in contact with him, I did some things I’m not proud of when he was younger and I don’t want to track him down, don’t want him to feel hunter. I was hoping he would come to me… so maybe you could pass along a message?” He pleads and seeing a man as powerful as James Black asking for help, broken and desperate, I say the only thing that’s right.

“Sure.” I agree to do what he wants. Cohen needs this.

“Tell him to come and find me, come home, that I have something for him.” His eyes soften as he nearly begs me. “Promise me.”

“I will.” I vow.

“All those weeks I was stuck in a dream like state, all I could do is remember.” He looks through us as he relives what he went through.

“Remember when Wendy got the crazy idea to take on all the world lost children, or as many as she could help and build a home for them in the estate her parent’s left her. She thought all children deserved to grow up, loved and natured. Not just their bodies, but their minds, their imaginations. She became so consumed with caring for everyone else, there was a great divide.”

His eyes focus back in and he looks at each of us as he continues his story.

“I was jealous, and I was wrong. Piers, Wendy loved you like a son. I think you already know she loved your father.”

Piers doesn’t say a word, but I can feel the pain rolling off of him at the mention of Peter.

“He was a good man, a friend even… it just so happened that we loved the same woman. It was my fault that he ended up with someone else. I never meant to make you pay for his sins and push you away from Everland, away from Willow and Wendy, your family. I can never repay you with those years so, what I’m going to do is sign over all my shares from BlackHouse. I would still like to have us retain a seat on the board, but there will be no more litigation, no more sneaking around buying up shares.”

My head whips over to find Piers with his jaw hanging open and Willow with tears streaming down her face.

“I understand why you wanted to take the company, to prove to me that you could do it, that you were a man, and that you were my equal in every way. No more fighting. They say you can’t buy happiness, but I’m hoping you can buy forgiveness, I’m going to sign over the shares to you, because you’re not my equal, Piers. You’re a better man than I’ll ever be and I’m sorry that I didn’t see that sooner.”