The Bound Between Us

Chapter 993

Pattie sat beside James, her lips trembling as she tried to follow his lead. The

whole living room seemed to hold its breath, every eye fixed on her, a cocktail of hope and worry swirling in the air. She opened her mouth, willing the words to come, but nothing happened.

Anastasia and Herman tensed, their faces etched with concern. Pattie felt her eyes sting, panic rising as she looked helplessly at her parents.

No sound. Not even a whisper.

Anastasia forced a gentle smile, her voice soft but shaky. "It's okay, honey. Don't rush. We'll take it slow. Try saying 'mom' for me, alright? Ma...ma.....”

She was holding herself together by a thread. She had to stay strong for Pattie— she couldn't fall apart first.

Herman's jaw was clenched so tight it looked painful. "Pattie, sweetheart, don't be scared. We're right here. Let's try again, okay? Say 'dad'—just once, for me.”

It was the first time they'd ever taught their eldest daughter how to speak.

When Emmie and Nancy were learning to talk, Anastasia and Herman had been there for every word, every stumble, every giggle. But Pattie had grown up apart from them—they'd missed her first steps, her first words, missed feeding her applesauce with a baby spoon, missed tucking her in after bedtime stories.

Anastasia had always regretted not being there for those moments. Now, life had handed her a second chance-but under circumstances she'd never wished for.

She would have given anything just to see Pattie healthy and whole, with no need for this painful do-over.

Her nose prickled, and she felt herself teetering on the edge of tears.

silence, afraid to even

sweetheart." Nancy and Emmie balled their

wiped her

house seemed to freeze-the

desperate, and it had been so long since she'd spoken that her muscles just wouldn't

comfort her, when suddenly—a raspy, broken

"...Da...dad... Daddy... Ma...mommy..."

words were rough, nearly a croak,

and Anastasia stared at each other, joy and disbelief warring

did it!" Salma nearly squealed, tripping over her own

again, sweetie. Say it again just once

it sounded like music. She tried again, and

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"Ma...mommy. Daddy. Grandma.

brother. Nana.

in the

at coming after Salma,

help himself-he kissed Pattie's forehead. "You're amazing, Pattie. I'm

kiss to her cheek, her voice thick

place. "Sis, can we give you a

"Me too!"

girls planted noisy kisses on her cheeks, grinning from ear to