Chapter 14 - THE CHRISTMAS THEY ALMOST MISSED
One year after the Bellweather gala, Daniel invited Emily and Lily to spend Christmas at his home.
Not the enormous penthouse where he usually lived.
A smaller house near the lake.
He had purchased it because Lily loved watching the water.
Emily had helped choose the furniture.
Lily had insisted on a piano beside the window.
On Christmas Eve, snow fell softly outside.
The kitchen smelled of gingerbread.
Daniel was attempting to make hot chocolate.
Badly.
Lily watched him.
“Dad.”
He looked up.
“Yes?”
“You're burning the milk.”
He frowned.
“I'm following the instructions.”
Emily laughed from the doorway.
“You're using the wrong burner.”
Daniel looked at the stove.
Then at them.
And began laughing too.
It was a small moment.
Ordinary.
Messy.
Perfect.
Later, Lily sat at the piano.
“Mom?”
Emily looked up.
“Yes?”
“Play our song?”
Daniel froze.
Emily smiled.
“Of course.”
She sat beside Lily.
Together, they began the melody.
Three notes.
Then four.
Then five.
Daniel stood beside the window.
Sixteen years earlier, he had written that song to promise Emily he would never forget her.
Now he understood something.
May you like
The melody had never disappeared.
It had simply been waiting for them to find their way back.
