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

your dad knew how good you were getting,

stared at her. "Ms. Riley, have you talked to Dad

really well. Maybe he'll even make enough to come home soon

lit up at that. "Really? Do you think he could be back before winter?" Lorna pressed her lips together, hesitating. "That...I

just trying to make

on business. He'd become a star in

Lorna sighed softly. "You have to believe in your dad,

stared down at the puzzle. "What about my

for

Mario was sharp-perhaps even more so because he'd never had a mother by his side, making him especially sensitive to the moods

hadn't expected him to be

realized something had happened to

said gently, "Your mom is away on a work trip. She might be gone for a while, but

with

okay."

nothing he could do. He'd already lost his

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