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?"

"Yeah!" Mario's eyes sparkled as he looked up at her. "I can solve all six sides now my fastest time is two minutes."

him, and Stewart who

dad knew how good you were getting,

her. "Ms. Riley, have you talked

and cheerful. "He says business is going really well.

"Really? Do you think he could be back before winter?" Lorna pressed her lips

Riley was just trying

on business. He'd

the disappointment on Mario's face, Lorna sighed softly. "You

stared down at the

for

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

hadn't expected him to be quite

realized something had happened to

to worry him any further, Lorna said gently, "Your mom is away on a work trip. She might be gone

with

okay."

felt a knot of anxiety in his chest, but there was nothing he could do.

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