30. Chapter 30
Chapter 30
Lily
I sit quietly waiting for Noah, twisting my ring around my finger—the only distraction I have in the empty hallway. The room he's in is just around the corner, but it feels like a world away in this silence so profound you could hear a pin drop.
Suddenly, the sharp sound of high heels tapping on the tile floor breaks the stillness. I listen for a few seconds before I glance up and find myself staring into Marian's cold glare. She sees me, and I see her. As she strides across the doorway, a mere twelve feet wide, it feels like time slows. Our eyes lock, a silent battle of wills as she crosses that empty space.
The moment stretches an eternity in the stark quiet. I refuse to look away, and so does she. Then she’s gone, leaving me with cold sweat prickling the back of my neck. "Get a grip, Lily! Get a grip," I whisper to myself, trying to shake off the chill that lingers in the air.
I wait for what feels like an eternity, the silence stretching until I finally hear it—Noah's husky voice mingling with Davey’s sweet, innocent tone. “...Do I get to sit next to the window, Daddy?”
“Yes, Buddy. You can have the window seat.”
The moment Davey spots me, his face lights up. “Lily!” he exclaims, sprinting towards me. I lift him into my arms, squeezing him tight. It feels like I’ve been holding my breath for a month, and now, finally, I can exhale.
Tears spill down my cheeks, the overwhelming relief crashing over me like a wave. “Why are you crying?” Davey asks, concern etched in his bright blue eyes as he wipes the tears away with his tiny finger.
"These are happy tears," I say, my voice trembling with emotion. "I’ve missed you so much, Davey. Seeing you makes everything better."
"My vacation is over," he whispers, his voice soft and comforting. "I'm going home with you and Daddy."
When my eyes meet Noah's, his smile is tender, his eyes glistening with joyful tears, just like mine. We're a family again. A family that's only just beginning to grow.