it was - the old house she never thought she'd never return to. The same house her late grandmo

a past she was too eager to escape. She had moved on, fallen in lov

her heart in pieces, the quiet creak of the wind through the

ce, tender and familiar. For the first time in years, Remi felt something close to peace. Maybe her grandmother had known a

er return. Her heels crunched softly against the gravel as she walked up the path, her chest tightening with eve

till fit

r soap. Everything was just as she remembered. The floral curtains her grandmother had sewn by hand. The tiny ceramic angels lin

forming in her throat. She had been so eager to run toward love, toward a life she thought was better than this

grandmother. The memory hit her hard. That was the year she'd promised to chase her d

nd gratitude. This house, untouched by betrayal or lies, stood as proof

been gone for so long. It wasn't easy to restore

he time she was done cleanin

nt to bed without

*

up on the couch with tears on his cheeks. He looke

e you still

rld is Remi thinking? Letting our child still awak

y's arms. "Daddy, mummy said i was not her son at school, and now no on

nd calm him down. "Don't worry. On Monday, your mo

y?" Ia

e Ian calm dow

quiet? He usually meet Remi watching movie each time he came bac

emi." He

some warm milk, shuffling. "Mr. We

owned. He didn't send Remi on a business

nd called Remi. It kept ringing until he was a

was clear that she had bee

ay all alone, what ki

l are you, Rem

e , and then Remi started laughing. "W

If I remember correctly, I didn't send you on a business

ng up if you don't have an

ol. And tell the teachers you made a mis

mother? When he said he wanted Bernice as his new mom, didn't you agree? Since I'm suc

hool competition instead of you. You know Bernice isn't okay, she explained that being around ki

that old ache in her heart. Her voice broke, and a twisted smile spread across her face. "Lacy, I never knew you were so good at blaming others. Your mom made it

Lacy yell

t, I left a very important document with Evie, get it from her and make su

Bip

l without waiting

ked at Evie. "Did Remi gave y

e put the steaming milk down, went to he

t and you sign it. Here sir." Evie

embered Remi trying to give him so

through the content of the