Mark
Watching her stand there with Luca in her arms, the sunlight catching in her hair, something in my chest shifted—quietly, permanently. It wasn’t dramatic. No thunderclap. Just the slow, unmistakable sense of something settling into place.
Sarah cleared her throat beside us, ever perceptive. “I’m gonna… give you two a minute,” she said lightly, already stepping back. “I’ll go check on Mom and Tony.”
She shot me a look that said don’t screw this up and then disappeared down the hall.
The moment she was gone, the air changed—softer, heavier, like the world had leaned in to listen.
I glanced at Melody. “So… tour continues,” I said, gesturing down the hallway. “If you’re up for it.”
She nodded, shifting Luca a little higher against her chest. “Lead the way.”
I walked beside her, car
