Chapter 6 - THE CHILD WHO KNEW LUCA'S NAME
Luca met Lily on a rainy Tuesday.
She sat in a hospital bed surrounded by coloring books.
Her hair was thin from treatment.
A purple blanket covered her legs.
She looked up when Nora entered.
“Aunt Nora!”
Nora smiled.
“Hi, sweetheart.”
Lily reached for her.
Then noticed Luca.
Her eyes widened.
“Who's that?”
Nora hesitated.
Luca stepped forward.
“I'm Luca.”
Lily stared.
Then gasped.
“Your husband?”
Nora blinked.
“Yes.”
Lily looked delighted.
“The one who lives in the big house?”
Luca smiled faintly.
“Apparently.”
Lily leaned toward him.
“Do you have a dragon?”
He blinked.
“A dragon?”
She nodded seriously.
“Aunt Nora says your house has a gate. Castles have gates. Castles have dragons.”
Luca looked at Nora.
For the first time, he saw her laugh.
Really laugh.
Not the polite smile she wore at dinner.
Not the careful expression she used when his business associates visited.
A real laugh.
Warm.
Uncontrolled.
Beautiful.
Luca felt something shift inside him.
He looked back at Lily.
“No dragon.”
She sighed.
“That's disappointing.”
He smiled.
“But I could probably find a stuffed one.”
Lily considered.
“Purple?”
“Purple.”
May you like
She nodded.
“Okay. You can stay.”
