Three days later.

Cloudcrest City, Westbrook Old Town. A cozy guesthouse.

Out in the garden, where all kinds of lush green plants and bright flowers flourished, Lucky lay sprawled on the ground, tongue lolling. Sunlight warmed his face, and he squinted contentedly, utterly relaxed.

Little Nina, clutching a child's makeup kit in one hand and a tiny powder puff in the other, was busy giving Lucky a makeover with impressive seriousness for

someone her age.

A few feet away, little Mario sat quietly on a wooden bench, head bowed in concentration, twisting and turning his Rubik's Cube.

From the kitchen drifted the comforting aroma of home-cooked food.

James was busy preparing lunch.

Just then, Lorna pushed open the vintage wooden gate at the edge of the yard, glanced around the sun-dappled garden, and then closed the door behind her, sliding the latch into place.

The creak of the gate caught Mario's attention. He looked up.

Lorna walked over and ruffled his hair. "Still working on your Rubik's Cube?"

sparkled as he looked up at her. "I can solve all six sides now my

the Rubik's Cube for him, and Stewart who had taught him how to

grinned. "If your dad knew how good

her. "Ms. Riley, have you talked to

Lorna replied, her tone light and cheerful. "He says business is going really well. Maybe he'll even make enough to come home soon and spend more

at that. "Really? Do you think he could be back before winter?" Lorna pressed her lips together, hesitating. "That...I can't promise, sweetheart."

was just

knew the truth: his dad wasn't overseas on business. He'd become a star in

sighed softly. "You have to believe in your dad,

stared down at the puzzle. "What about

froze for

known Mario was sharp-perhaps even more so because he'd never had a mother

hadn't expected him to be

have realized something had happened to Briony,

"Your mom is away on a work trip. She might be gone for a while,

is with

okay."

but there was nothing he could do. He'd already

to Mario's quiet sensitivity, Little

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