Chapter 9 - The One Thing Vincent Moretti Had Never HadFive years after Vincent returned to Blackthorne, the manor no longer resembled the place he had abandoned.
There were flowers outside.
Children's bicycles.
Painted cabins.
A bakery.
A clinic.
A library.
A playground.
And on the hill overlooking Lake Erie stood a new building.
The Rebecca Bennett Community Center.
Claire stood at the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Beside her stood Vincent.
Their daughter Clara held both their hands.
The crowd applauded.
Claire looked at Vincent.
“You did this.”
“No.”
“You paid for it.”
“You built it.”
She smiled.
Their daughter tugged his sleeve.
“Daddy.”
“Yes?”
“I want cake.”
“There is cake.”
“Chocolate.”
“You've already had chocolate.”
“More.”
Vincent looked at Claire.
She shrugged.
“Don't look at me.”
He sighed.
“Fine.”
Their daughter cheered.
The celebration lasted all afternoon.
Children ran through the snow.
Families filled the cabins.
Music played.
Claire watched Vincent with their daughter.
He had changed.
He still had scars.
Still had a hard expression.
Still had a dangerous reputation in certain circles.
But Clara didn't know the mafia boss.
She knew Daddy.
The man who read bedtime stories.
Who built snowmen.
Who checked windows at night.
Who cried when she was born.
Who carried his wife's inhaler in the same pocket as his phone.
Claire watched them from the porch.
Margaret joined her.
“You finally got your family.”
Claire smiled.
“I did.”
“You deserved it.”
Claire looked at the manor.
She remembered the woman she had been at twenty-nine.
Sick.
Unwanted.
Abandoned.
She barely recognized her.
Vincent appeared behind her.
“What are you thinking?”
“That I used to hate this house.”
“Why?”
“Because you left me here.”
He looked down.
“I know.”
“But now…”
She looked at the glowing windows.
“I wouldn't trade it.”
Vincent took her hand.
“You saved my life too.”
“How?”
“You taught me what home was.”
She looked at him.
He leaned closer.
“There was one thing I never had.”
“What?”
“A reason to come home.”
Her eyes filled.
“You have one now.”
“Yes.”
He kissed her.
Their daughter shouted,
“Eww!”
Claire laughed.
May you like
Vincent laughed too.
And the sound floated through the snow.
