Chapter 16
Chapter Sateen
The kitchen smeed of
Butter and sugar Amelia stood at the marble counter, four dusting her hands as she guided Eva through the gentle art of pastry–making.
“Like tha“”Evasked her brow furrowed in concentration as she folded the dough
“Gentle” Amelia conected, placing her hands over Exa’s Too much pressure and it becomes tough. Think of anxing the dough, not forcing it.”
Eva nodded, adjusting her technique. “Mom and never baked together. She got sick when I
100 young to leam”
The casual mention of Dent ng through Amelia’s chest. These moments were always delicate, when Exa referenced her mother, comparing their expences
“Your mother sounds like an amazing woman, Amelia gaidatly wish I could have met her
Ex kept her eyes on the dough, but a small smile touched her lips. “The would have liked you. Dad says you both share the same core of stol under a gente surface.”
Something warm bloomed in Amelia’s chest–unexpected and tender
“Thiga,”
“The “Eva Laid proudly, holding up the perfectly folded dough. “Diddos right this time?”
Amela examined it with mock seriousness, then broken Perfect. You’re a natural
Eva beamed at the rise a eighteen, she was caught between child and woman–sometimes sophisticated beyond her years, other times still needing guidanceforthelestasks.
“Now we let it rest in the refrigerator Amelia explained “Patenthe secret ingredient in all good baking.”
“Patience” Eve repeated thoughtfully. “Not my strong suit.”
“Mine nether, once upon a time.“Ame wiped flour from her hands. “But illa has a way of leaching you the lessons you need most
Evadece kewhat happened with Richard?”
The direness of the question caught Amelia off guard. They rarely discussed Richard explicitly, though his shadow ingred over many of their conversations
“Yes” Amela admitted “Among other things”
Unlocked
Chapter 16
Eleaned against the counter, her expression serious beyond her years. Do you regret it? The marriage, I mean. The twenty years you spent with him.”
Amelia considered carefully: Six months ago, freshly wounded and raw with betrayal, she might have said yes. But now…
“No” she said finally “Tregret losing myself in it, I regret accepting less than I deserved. But I don’t regret the years themselves. They made me who am
Exa nodded, seeming to find something important in this answer. That’s how I feel about Momding thate that it happened, but I don’t know who I’d bit hadnt
of
The simple wisdom struck Amelia deeply Shareached out without thinking tucking a strand of har behind Exaxa moternal gesture shed performed countless times with her own children
Eleaned into the touch, and something unspoken passed between them. Understanding Connection.
The kitchen door swung open. Lucas entered, his face brightening at the sight of them.
“What’s the asked, surveying the four–dusted counter.
Ameka’s teaching me to make her grandmother’s pantry. Ex explained excitedly. “We’re going to with apples and cinnamon
Ah, som to be your test subject? Lucas’s crinkled with aut
man, Amela teased. “Fast attempts can be unpredictable
Teat cardboard of Ex made it Lucas declared, dropping a g a kiss on his daughter for
“Gross Dad” Eve wrinkled her nose but her pleasure was evident
Amel watched them, the easy affection between father and daughter sending an achethrough her heart. She missed this, the simple joy of family moments, untainted by tray a
Lucas must have noticed some pression, because honedhave some calls to make before dinner,” he said. “You two carry on with your baking lesson
As he turned to leave, his hand brushed Amelia’s, brief, perhaps accident, but the touch lingered long after he gone
Hees watching us together,” Eva said once the door closed
Aglanced her surprised. “Does he?”
Eva nodded, moving to the refugerator. Thavent seen him tha happy once before Mam got sick.”
Chapter 16
The statement hung in the air weighted with implications Amela wasn’t ready to examine.
Later that afternoon, Amelia sat on the terrace overlooking the lake, lost in thought. The baking lesson had shifted something inside her awakened a tenderness she kept carefully guarded
Exhaled a hole in her heart she had fully acknowledged Not replacing her own children, but offering a different kind of material connection, uncomplicated by history: Fresh
“Medyou?
Lucas stood in the doorway, two glasses of wine in hand.
“Please” Amela gestured to the chair beside her
He settled next to her offering one of the glasses. “Eva’s upstairs, nously watching them for
Alle “he’s a quick learner?
wine. But this is different. Persoon her take to come the way the hat with you
“She always has been “Lucas spped his wine
Amelia fet her cheeks warm. Shes an extraordinary young woman. You’ve done an amazing job raising her
1 can take much credit Duna laid the foundation “Heturned to look at Amelia directly “What I’m trying to say thank you”
For what?
Forgiving Eva something I couldn’t.”His voice grew quieter. Female guidance Maternal wisdom. A woman took
Emotion lightened Amela’y that he makes it should be thanking you for sharing her with me. She’s helped heal parts of met thought were broken forever”
Lucas eyes sched. That works both ways. You’ve helped us to
The moment streiched between them, filled with unspoken feelings. Amelia looked away first her heart beating too fast.
keep thinking about my own children, she admed “Watching you and Eva together reminds me of averything I lost
Lucas turned fully toward her. “You haven’t lost them forever, Amelia, When you’re ready to face Richard aging, when you’ve built your strength back, they’ll see the truth”
Chapter 16
“Will they?” She shook her head. They chose their side so quickly. What if they never want to see me again?”
The fear that had haunted her for months finally spoken aloud. Lucas reached out taking her hand in his
Children makemistakes. Even adult children. Especialy when manipulated by someone they that.” His fingers were warm against hers. Don’t give upon them yet.”
Aumer chimed from inside, followed by Eva’s excited call “Amelia’s ready!”
Lucas smiled, squeezing her hand before leasing it. Tuty calls.”
The pastry turned out beautifully golden and fragrant. They are swarm from the gathered around the kitchen land rather than the formal diningroom “This b
i is amazing“Lucas declared after hit be. Eva, you’ve used your caling”
Exa rolled her eyes. Tight I should give up international finance for a bakery”
“The world’s most exclusive bakery, Amelia suggested. “By appointment only. You could share
They laughed together, the sound filling the kitchen with warmth. Amelia caught Lucas watching them, something like wond
Later, after Eva had gone upstairs, Lucas helped me can up the kitchen, the movements falling into a comfortable rhythm
“We never did this” he said suddenly, hands deep in soapy water Dan and We had staff for everything
Amelia looked up from drying a bowl “And yet you’re surprisingly good at washing dishes”
He smiled, but his eyes remained serious “What I mean, emased these small moments. Always too busy with work, with maintaining an image
The admission resonated with Ameka. How many evenings had she and Richard spent apart, him at business dinners, her at the children activities How many opportunities for connection had band?
“It’s not too late,‘ she said softly
Lucas handed her a clean pan “No in not
The simple exchange carried weight beyond the words themselves. A recognition of second chances or beyond land by
Chapter 16
That night, Amela found a small package outside her bedroom door inside was a silver frame containing a photograph taken that afternoon, Amelia and Eva laughing together in the kitchen, flour on their cheeks, heads best closer the pastry dough. a
Anote in Eva’s handwriting accompanied Thank you for today. For every day. I never knew how much I needed someone like you until you arved Love, Eva”
Tears filled Amelia’s eyes as she traced their face in the photograph. “Someone like you” Not a mother” or “a friend, but something urquely their own, defying simple labels
le
She placed the frame on her bedside table next to the personal items she’d accumulated here Physical markers of her new, her news. A woman who could still nurture and care deeply, desone having that capacity thrown back in her face.
From the window, Amelia could see Lucas walking by the lake his figure shouted against the moonlight on water. Watching over his home. His daughter. And now, show her as mal
Exgifted something Amelia had been feeling but hadn’t fully acknowledge longed here. Not as a guest or a project, but antal part of this smal, unconventional family. A family formed not by blood or legal bonds, but by choce by mutual healing. By shared understanding of loss and
Tomorrow would bring more lessons in finance, more steps toward her eventual confrontation with Richard
But tonight, for the first time since that devastating evening at the restaurant, Amela fell asleep with a sin of belonging of home of family
Not the family she had lost, but the one she had unexpectedly found
