Chapter 14 - The Last Message From Her Mother|
The package arrived forty minutes before Lily's school performance.
I was helping her adjust the ribbon on her dress when Gabriel entered the dressing room.
He held a small cardboard box.
His face was pale.
"Lily."
She turned.
"Daddy?"
He looked at me.
Then back at his daughter.
"Something arrived for you."
Lily's eyes widened.
"A present?"
Gabriel hesitated.
"Maybe."
He knelt beside her.
"It's from someone who knew your mother."
Lily went still.
"Mommy?"
Gabriel swallowed.
"The package was prepared by her."
I felt my heart tighten.
Lily slowly reached for it.
Her small fingers traced the writing on the label.
Then she gasped.
"That's Mommy's handwriting."
Gabriel nodded.
Her eyes filled.
"How?"
He took a breath.
"Rebecca helped verify that the package came from a storage service Elena used."
I looked at him.
He continued.
"Elena arranged for it to be delivered on a future date."
Lily stared at the box.
"Why now?"
Gabriel's eyes glistened.
"Because today is a special day."
Lily frowned.
"My performance?"
He nodded.
"Elena made this recording after she learned how much you loved singing."
I covered my mouth.
Lily looked down at the package again.
"Can I open it?"
Gabriel smiled sadly.
"Of course."
She carefully lifted the lid.
Inside was a small velvet pouch.
A handwritten card.
And a silver-colored USB drive shaped like a star.
Lily immediately picked up the card.
Her lips moved as she read.
Then her face crumpled.
I knelt beside her.
"Sweetheart?"
She handed me the card.
I read it silently.
"To my beautiful Lily, for the day you sing another song without me sitting in the audience."
My eyes filled.
Below it, Elena had written another sentence.
"Remember that love doesn't disappear when someone leaves this world; it becomes something you carry."
I looked at Gabriel.
Tears were running down his cheeks.
Lily touched the little star.
"Is Mommy on this?"
Gabriel nodded.
"I believe so."
She looked toward the stage door.
Then back at him.
"Can we listen?"
He checked his watch.
"We have time."
I helped connect the drive to the dressing room laptop.
Gabriel pulled a chair beside Lily.
I sat on her other side.
The screen flickered.
A video appeared.
And suddenly, Elena Romano was alive again.
Not really.
Not in the way Lily wanted.
But there she was.
Sitting in the sunlit morning room.
Wearing a pale-blue sweater.
Her brown hair resting over one shoulder.
She smiled into the camera.
"Hello, my beautiful girl."
Lily gasped.
"Mommy."
Gabriel covered his mouth.
Elena continued.
"If you're watching this, then you've grown a little older."
She laughed softly.
"And I probably missed another opportunity to tell you how proud I am."
Lily began crying.
I wrapped an arm around her.
On the screen, Elena looked down for a moment.
Then smiled again.
"You know, Lily, when you were little, you used to sing while brushing your teeth."
Lily laughed through her tears.
"You made up songs about everything."
Elena's smile grew.
"Your socks."
"Your breakfast."
"Even that terrible broccoli your father pretended to enjoy."
Gabriel let out a broken laugh.
Lily turned toward him.
"You hate broccoli?"
He nodded.
"Very much."
She giggled.
Then returned her attention to the screen.
Elena's expression became tender.
"Sweetheart, I don't know what the world will look like when you watch this."
She paused.
"But I hope you're still singing."
Lily wiped her cheeks.
"I am, Mommy."
Elena continued.
"I hope you're still asking questions."
Lily nodded.
"And I hope you never let anyone convince you that your feelings make you difficult to love."
I felt Gabriel go still.
Elena smiled gently.
"Sometimes adults get things wrong."
She paused.
"Sometimes we get so busy trying to fix everything that we forget to sit down and listen."
Gabriel lowered his head.
Elena looked directly into the camera.
"But that is never a child's responsibility."
Lily began crying harder.
Elena's voice softened.
"You are not too emotional."
She smiled.
"You are not too much."
Her eyes glistened.
"And you will never have to earn the right to be loved."
Gabriel reached for his daughter.
She climbed into his lap.
He held her tightly.
On the screen, Elena took a shaky breath.
"Your daddy loves you, Lily."
Gabriel closed his eyes.
"He doesn't always know how to show it."
Elena laughed softly.
"Sometimes he thinks buying a giant birthday cake is the same as remembering which flavor you like."
Lily giggled.
Gabriel whispered, "Chocolate with strawberries."
She turned toward him.
"You remembered."
He kissed her forehead.
"I remember now."
Elena continued.
"But your father has a good heart."
Her expression became serious.
"And if he ever forgets how important you are, remind him."
Gabriel began crying.
Elena smiled through her own tears.
"Because you deserve a father who shows up."
I looked away.
The words felt almost impossible.
As though Elena had reached through time to tell Gabriel exactly what he needed to hear.
Then she spoke again.
"And Lily, there's one more thing."
The little girl leaned closer.
Elena's eyes glistened.
"Someday, your father might fall in love again."
Gabriel froze.
I stopped breathing.
Elena continued.
"And if he does, I hope that person is kind."
She smiled.
"I hope she listens when you're sad."
My throat tightened.
"I hope she respects our memories."
Lily reached for my hand.
"And I hope she understands that loving your father doesn't mean asking you to forget me."
Tears spilled down my cheeks.
Gabriel looked at me.
I couldn't hold his gaze.
Elena took a breath.
"Love isn't a chair with only one place to sit."
She smiled.
"It's a table that can always make room for someone who truly cares."
Lily began smiling through her tears.
"And if someone joins your family, sweetheart, you don't have to call her Mommy."
Elena's voice softened.
"That word belongs to your heart."
Lily whispered, "I know."
"But you can still love her."
The room fell silent.
Elena smiled one last time.
"And none of that will ever change how much I love you."
She raised her hand toward the camera.
"Now go sing, my brave girl."
Her voice trembled.
"Sing loud enough for both of us."
The screen faded to black.
For several moments, nobody spoke.
Then Lily turned in Gabriel's lap.
"Daddy?"
He looked at her.
"Yes, baby?"
"Do you think Mommy can hear me?"
Gabriel swallowed.
"I don't know exactly how that works."
He brushed her hair away from her face.
"But I know she'd be proud of you."
Lily nodded.
Then she looked at me.
"Natalie?"
"Yes, sweetheart?"
"Will you sit beside Daddy?"
I smiled through my tears.
"Of course."
She looked relieved.
"Because I want to see both of you when I sing."
Gabriel looked at me.
There was something in his expression I had never seen before.
Something tender.
Something careful.
Something he wasn't ready to name.
And neither was I.
A teacher knocked at the door.
"Lily, we're ready for you."
Lily took a deep breath.
Then she straightened her dress.
Gabriel stood.
He kissed her forehead.
"You've got this, sweetheart."
She smiled.
"I know."
Then she looked at both of us.
"Don't leave."
Gabriel shook his head.
"Not a chance."
We walked into the auditorium.
The seats were already filling.
Parents carried flowers.
Teachers moved between rows.
Children whispered nervously behind the curtain.
Gabriel guided me toward the front.
I hesitated.
"Are you sure I should sit here?"
He looked surprised.
"Why wouldn't you?"
I glanced at the other parents.
"I'm still your employee."
Gabriel's expression changed.
He stepped closer.
"Natalie."
I looked up.
"Tonight, you're someone Lily wants in the audience."
My throat tightened.
"That's where you belong."
I sat beside him.
The lights dimmed.
A hush settled over the auditorium.
Then the curtain opened.
Lily stood at the center of the stage.
She wore a simple white dress.
Her hands trembled slightly.
I could see her searching the audience.
Then she found us.
Gabriel lifted his hand.
I smiled.
Lily's face lit up.
And she began to sing.
Her voice was clear.
Beautiful.
A little nervous at first.
Then stronger.
Gabriel sat perfectly still.
His eyes never left his daughter.
Halfway through the song, Lily looked directly at him.
And smiled.
Gabriel began crying.
I quietly handed him a tissue.
He laughed through his tears.
"Thank you."
I nodded.
When the performance ended, the auditorium erupted in applause.
Gabriel stood before anyone else.
He clapped until his hands were red.
Lily bowed.
Then looked toward us again.
And in that moment, I knew something important.
The little girl who had cried beneath the chandeliers because she believed her father didn't want her anymore was beginning to believe she belonged again.
After the show, Lily ran into Gabriel's arms.
He lifted her off the floor.
"You were incredible!"
She laughed.
"Really?"
"Really."
He kissed her forehead.
"I'm so proud of you."
She looked at me.
"Natalie?"
I smiled.
"You were wonderful, sweetheart."
She hugged me too.
Then she stepped back and looked between us.
"I wish Mommy could have seen it."
Gabriel knelt.
"Maybe we can keep the recording and watch it together whenever you want."
Lily nodded.
Then she looked at me.
"Can we make it a family night?"
I felt tears sting my eyes.
Gabriel smiled.
"I'd like that."
We returned home beneath a sky full of stars.
Lily fell asleep in the car.
Gabriel carried her upstairs.
I followed with her flowers.
After we tucked her into bed, Gabriel and I stood in the hallway.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then he said, "Natalie, I need to tell you something."
My heart began pounding.
I looked up.
He took a breath.
"These past weeks have changed me."
I nodded.
"Me too."
He looked toward Lily's door.
"I don't want to confuse her."
I swallowed.
"Neither do I."
"And I don't want you to feel obligated to me because of your job."
My breath caught.
Gabriel looked directly into my eyes.
"So before I say anything else, I want you to know you have complete freedom to choose your future."
I stared.
He continued.
"I've asked our human resources adviser to arrange a transfer or separation package if that's what you want."
My heart tightened.
"Are you firing me?"
His eyes widened.
"No."
He shook his head.
"Absolutely not."
I almost laughed with relief.
He smiled.
"I simply don't want my position in this household to influence your decisions."
I looked at him.
Then he took another breath.
"Natalie, I've started feeling something for you."
My heart stopped.
He continued carefully.
"I don't expect you to return those feelings."
His voice softened.
"And I know this is far too soon for either of us to make promises."
I swallowed.
"Gabriel."
He looked at me.
I took a shaky breath.
"I care about you too."
His expression changed.
But I continued.
"And I care about Lily."
He nodded.
"I know."
I looked down.
"But I need to make decisions that are mine."
He smiled gently.
"That's exactly what I want."
For a moment, we stood in silence.
Then I laughed softly.
"We're not very good at simple conversations, are we?"
Gabriel smiled.
"Apparently not."
I looked toward Lily's door.
"She needs stability."
He nodded.
"And time."
"Yes."
He hesitated.
"Then perhaps we could start with something small."
I raised an eyebrow.
"Like what?"
He smiled.
"Coffee."
I laughed.
"Coffee?"
"At a place without thirty-two dinner guests."
I grinned.
"Or a locked dining room?"
He chuckled.
"Preferably."
I felt warmth spread through my chest.
"Maybe."
He nodded.
"Maybe is enough."
Then Lily's door opened.
She stood there in her pajamas, holding her music box.
We both turned.
"Lily?"
She blinked sleepily.
"Why are you whispering?"
Gabriel smiled.
"Just talking."
She looked at us.
Then at the flowers in my hands.
Then back at her father.
A mischievous smile appeared.
"Are you talking about kissing?"
I nearly dropped the flowers.
Gabriel coughed.
"Lily!"
She giggled.
Then she held up her music box.
"I don't care."
Gabriel stared.
She smiled.
"As long as nobody makes me stop talking about Mommy."
The laughter vanished from my throat.
Gabriel knelt.
"Nobody ever will."
Lily nodded.
"Good."
She hugged him.
Then hugged me.
And returned to her room.
I watched the door close.
Gabriel looked at me.
Then we both began laughing.
For the first time in weeks, it was laughter without fear behind it.
And I thought, perhaps, that happiness might finally be possible.
But there was still one thing Gabriel needed to do before the family could truly move forward.
He needed to face the man who had betrayed his brotherhood, destroyed his marriage, and taken Elena away.
He needed to face Raymond in court.
And this time, he would not face him as the feared head of the Romano family.
May you like
He would face him as Elena's husband.
And Lily's father.
