Chapter 10
Six months later.
The trial of Richard and Margaret Hale was over.
They had both pleaded guilty to conspiracy and kidnapping in exchange for reduced sentences.
Richard got ten years.
Margaret got seven.
They had written me a letter from prison.
Said they were sorry.
Said they hoped one day I could forgive them.
I hadn’t written back.
Maybe someday I would.
But not today.
Dr. Chen was serving twenty years for his part in everything.
He had lost his medical license.
His wife had left him.
His kids wouldn’t talk to him.
He had lost everything.
Just like he had made me lose everything.
Maria Gonzalez had been given immunity for her testimony.
She was now in witness protection somewhere.
Starting over.
My father had sold the family home.
Moved into a small condo ten minutes from my house.
He came over every day.
Helped with Liam.
Changed diapers.
Gave him his bottle.
Rocked him to sleep.
He was trying to make amends.
One day at a time.
And slowly, I was starting to heal.
The bullet wound in my shoulder had left a scar.
A thick, raised line of pink flesh.
I looked at it every morning when I got dressed.
It was a reminder.
Of how close I had come to losing everything.
And of how lucky I was to still be here.
Liam was six months old now.
The happiest baby I had ever seen.
He was sitting up on his own.
Trying to crawl.
He had the biggest smile.
And when he laughed, it sounded like music.
He had Emily’s laugh.
Hannah was still living with us.
She had quit her job and opened her own bakery downtown.
It was doing great.
She was the best aunt in the world.
Every night after she closed the shop, she came home and played with Liam until his bedtime.
Spoiled him rotten.
Just like she was supposed to.
Tonight was a special night.
We were having a small party in the backyard.
Just family.
My dad.
Hannah.
Emily’s parents, who had moved to Houston to be closer to their grandson.
It was Liam’s half-birthday.
Six months to the day since he had been born.
Since his mother had died holding him in her heart.
We ate hamburgers and potato salad.
Liam sat in his high chair and smashed cake all over his face.
Everyone laughed and took pictures.
Later, after everyone else had gone home, I took Liam out onto the back porch.
The stars were bright.
The air was warm.
I held him in my arms and pointed up at the sky.
“See that bright star right there, buddy? That’s your mommy. She’s watching over you. She loves you so much. More than you’ll ever know.”
Liam babbled and reached for the stars.
Like he could touch them.
Hannah came out and stood beside me.
She put her head on my shoulder.
“Emily would be so proud of you, you know.”
I smiled.
“I hope so. Some days I feel like I’m just making it up as I go along.”
“All parents do. But you’re doing great. He’s happy. He’s healthy. He knows he’s loved. That’s all that matters.”
We stood there in silence for a while.
Watching Liam play with my fingers.
“Daniel,” Hannah said softly. “I’ve been thinking. About the future. About us.”
I looked at her.
She was blushing.
Something I hadn’t seen since she was a teenager.
“What about us?”
“I love Liam like he was my own. And I love you. Not… not like a brother. More than that. I have for a long time. But I never said anything because you were with Emily. And she was my sister. And it would’ve been wrong. But now… she’s gone. And we’ve been through so much together. And I can’t imagine my life without you or Liam. I don’t want to.”
She took a deep breath.
“I’m not saying we have to do anything right now. Or ever. If you don’t feel the same way, I’ll understand. I’ll still be here. For both of you. Always. But I just… I needed you to know.”
I looked at her.
Really looked at her.
She had been there for me through everything.
The funeral.
The hospital.
Dallas.
Arkansas.
The shooting.
She had held my hand when I wanted to die.
She had held Liam when I was too broken to do it myself.
She had loved him like he was her own.
And somewhere along the way, I had fallen in love with her too.
Not to replace Emily.
Never that.
Emily was a part of me forever.
But Hannah was my future.
She was the one who was here.
The one who had fought beside me.
The one who loved my son with everything she had.
I reached over and brushed a strand of hair away from her face.
“I love you too, Hannah. More than I can say. You’ve given me my life back. You’ve given Liam a mother’s love when he needed it most. I don’t know what the future holds. But I know I want you in it. For as long as you’ll have me.”
She smiled through her tears.
“Forever. That’s how long.”
She leaned in.
We kissed.
Softly.
Gently.
And somewhere, I knew Emily was smiling too.
Liam chose that moment to let out a loud, happy squeal.
We both laughed.
I looked up at the bright star again.
Thank you, I whispered to the wind.
For giving me him.
For giving me her.
We’re going to be okay.
I promise.
I held my son a little tighter.
Hannah put her arm around my waist.
And together, the three of us watched the stars come out.
Our family.
Broken.
Scarred.
May you like
But whole again.
And ready for whatever came next.
