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We walk up the driveway, Aria between us, each of her hands engulfed in one of ours It’s been six weeks since we told her she’s our daughter, and she’s taken to the idea really well, but I know she still misses Theo So about him He was her dad for almost seven years; I would never expect her to si him

Her birthday is next week, so we’re taking her out of school for a few days and going on a vacation to the beach She’s never been, and I’m really excited to be there the first time she sees the ocean I’ve missed so many firsts, and I refuse to miss any more

I lick hteen the last tier than I remember

Aria squeezesto be okay, Moain”

I barely hold back the tears threatening to form I’m the adult I’m the one who’s supposed to offer comfort, not the other way around We’ve kept asto co s she didn’t need to know, so we’ve only told her I haven’t seen ”

“Thank you, baby I hope you’re right”

“I am You’ll see”

I look at Luca when he chuckles and smile softly at him I never knew I could love someone as fiercely as I love these two people My husband and daughter My smile widens when those two labels enter my mind It’s still hard to believe at times

We climb the steps and stop in front of the door It takes e to lift my hand to knock Before my knuckles hit the wood, the door’s pulled open

All the air inbreath and my body freezes as I stare into a pair of familiar amber eyes that I’ve missed so much The part of my heart I reserve only for my parents cracked when I woke and discoveredthe age lines beside her eyes and the abundance of gray in her brown hair,pain splintering through me

“Jules,” she whispers, instant tears filling her eyes “Is that really you?”

“Mom” My voice is raw and filled with soit

Her hands fly to her mouth and her shoulders shake with her silent cries I stay where I ao to her, but I don’t know if I should It only takes seconds for her to shohere I should be: wrapped in her arms

She rushes forward, and we embrace each other with a sob I close my eyes, bury my face in my mom’s shoulder, and breathe in her familiar scent It’s the same as I remember, and that makes me incredibly happy

After several moments, she pulls back and cups my cheeks Her eyes run all over my face “My sweet child, where have you been?” she asks in a hushed tone, her words breaking