He looked impossibly handsome, dressed neatly, posture straight but his eyes were tired. Sad.
Like someone who had walked a long road to get here and wasn’t sure he was welcome at the end of it.
For a moment, the noise faded.
Willa broke free from Riana’s side and ran toward him. Her sadness and loneliness replaced with a hope of happiness, “Uncle Raphael!”
He knelt instantly, arms opening to catch her. “Hey, little star.”
Riana watched him hug her daughter gently, a thousand emotions crashing through her chest at once. “You miss me?”
“Yes! Mommy said you are busy. You are always busy. You are just like Daddy” Willa pouted and crossed her arms on her chest.
“I’m… I’m sorry, little one. I’ll make it up to you. Why don’t you and me, and Mommy spend time together. We ca
