Chapter 9 - THE FATHER SOPHIE DIDN'T REMEMBER
Reuniting Sophie with Miguel was harder than I expected.
She remembered photographs.
Stories.
His voice.
But she was five.
He had disappeared when she was two.
The man in the hospital bed was both familiar and strange.
A child psychologist helped us prepare.
We explained that Miguel had been away because dangerous people had prevented him from coming home.
We told Sophie he loved her.
We let her ask questions.
And we didn't force affection.
When she entered the hospital room, Miguel began crying.
"Sophie?"
She stopped.
Held my hand.
Then looked at him.
"Are you Daddy?"
Miguel nodded.
"Yes, sweetheart."
She stared.
"Why did you knock on my window?"
His face crumpled.
"I'm sorry."
Sophie looked down.
"You scared me."
Miguel swallowed.
"I know."
She tightened her grip on my hand.
"Bruno scared you away."
Miguel laughed through tears.
"He did."
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then Sophie asked:
"Do you still know the star song?"
Miguel closed his eyes.
He began singing softly.
A silly song he'd made up when she was a baby.
About stars.
The moon.
And a little girl who could fly.
Sophie stared.
Then her face changed.
"Daddy?"
Miguel nodded.
She stepped closer.
Then climbed carefully onto the bed beside him.
He held out his arms.
She moved into them.
And for the first time in three years, my daughter hugged her father.
I stood near the window.
Tears streamed down my face.
Dante waited outside the room.
He didn't interrupt.
Didn't ask for thanks.
Didn't make the moment about himself.
He simply stood guard.
Later, Miguel asked to speak with him.
Dante entered.
The two men looked at each other.
Miguel swallowed.
"Thank you."
Dante nodded.
"You're welcome."
Miguel looked down.
"For protecting them."
Dante's expression softened.
"They deserved protection long before this."
Miguel nodded.
Then said:
"I know your family didn't cause this."
Dante looked surprised.
Miguel continued.
"Victor used your father's company. But Salvatore was trying to stop him."
Dante's eyes darkened.
"Are you certain?"
Miguel nodded.
"Your father was supposed to help me."
Silence.
May you like
Then Miguel whispered:
"Someone stopped him before he could."
