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."

who had bought the Rubik's Cube for him, and Stewart

amazing!" Lorna grinned. "If your dad knew how good you were

at her. "Ms. Riley, have

says business is going really well. Maybe he'll even make enough to come home soon and

back before winter?" Lorna pressed her lips together,

wasn't fooled. Ms. Riley was just trying to make him

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

sighed softly. "You have to believe in your

the puzzle. "What about

froze for a

he'd never had a mother by

hadn't expected him to be quite

something had happened

said gently, "Your mom is away

with her. She'

okay."

of anxiety in his chest, but there was nothing he could do. He'd already lost

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