Chapter 12
“Mom! He’s here again.”
Į didn’t need Luna to say no, I already knew,
It had been months since Charlotte’s arrest. Things settled down.
will didn’t disappear.
He started waiting near Luna’s school. Not too close, just enough to see her come out.
I looked out the window. Will’s car, same spot as always, Not too close. Not too far. Just visible enough to remind me he was still amund.
“Did he say anything?” asked
*He just smiled. This time he gave me a sketchbook,” Lima said, placing it on the table. “It’s really nice”
flipped it open. Handmade paper. The first page had a small pote
‘Formy beautiful daughter”
Dclosed it and sched
The other day, he gave Luna a chocolate and now a sketchbook
I saw him sometimes, too. Near the park Across the street. Sitting in his car.
He never came to the house again.
1 knew he wanted to ask me to come back. But he never said the words.
I was grateful for that
“You’re not going back, are you?” Lona asked quietly,
“You still don’t hate him, though”
1 shook my head. “It’s more complicated than hate.”
That evening. I spotted him again. Waiting. Watching. He never mochard. Never called.
But that night, something happened.
I was walking home with groceries when I noticed someone following behind. Not Will Someone unfamiliar heart cacing.
Suddenly- “Anna”
Will’s voice. He appeared out of nowhere, grabbed my hand, and pulled me toward his car.
“Get in,” he ordered.
Tobeyed without thinking
The main tumed the comer, but will peeled off before he could get close.
His footsteps were oft. I clutched the bag tighter,
“I don’t know, but he wasn’t looking for directions.”
We sat in silence for a minute.
“Thanks,” I murmured.
He didn’t say anything.
“You’ve been waiting outside for weeks.”
“I didn’t know what else to do.”
“You could’ve called. Knocked”
“You wouldn’t answer.
“You’ir righd
Another silence. Heavy Hone..
‘m not here to ask for anything,” he said.
“I low it’s too late. It the mow your face again You looked.fr.”
*enause I an
He smiled. “I just wanted to see her. Luna”
*she knows who you are.”
“[don’t deserve ilut.”
But she forgives fast.
“She gets that from you.
”
“Don’t try to flatter me it’s over, Will‘
“You don’t have to do this every day,” I said.
“know,” Will replied. “I just want to be near her. Make sure she’s safe‘
I looked at him. “You were never this calm before.”
“Elost everything. It teaches you to be quiet.”
Ddidn’t know what to say to that.
Then be pulled out a paper from his coat. “Here.”
I unfolded it.
The divorce agreement. Signed
Estared at the signature. Clean Sharp. No hesitation,
This means you’re really letting go,” Said quietly,
“You didn’t. I did.”
A few days later, I got a call from Susan
“You’er not going to believe what he did,” she said.
“He sem Evelyn to an orphanage.”
I blinked “What? Why?
She wasn’t his daughter. You knew that. Her mother is in jail, and her father died, and it’s only right for Evelyn to be placed in the orphanage.”
did. But baised her like one. How’s Will?
“He’s okay,” she said. “Just living quietly. Helping kids. H
He doesn’t talk about the past.”
“That’s good,” I said.
“He also started a welfare organoration ”
at up: “He what?”
In Luna’s name. Helping kids. Orphans, mostly,”
Mrland covered my mouth. He never said a word.”
“He didn’t want you to know said it wasn’t about redemption, ”
Η
“Right after the divorce. Quietly. He’s been doing it for a few months now
I swallowed hard. “He crally clumped.”
“ite did. But it was too late,”
”
There was a plate. Then –
“You got married again,” she said.
“No. He never came amund again. Never reached out just disappraed.”
frank.. he finally framed to let po ”
Chi Lima’s next birthday, will showed up at the door with a take and asmall gift
thesitated at rust then let him in
He sat beside her as she opened it
A necklace. A tiny moon charm.
“For you,” he said.
I nodded.
She smiled. “Thanks, Dad.”
They laughed that day.
Played cards Are too much sugar
Istood by the kitchen, just watching
He didn’t try to talk to me. Didn’t try to stay longer than he should.
Just held her tightly before he left and whispered, “Happy birthday, sweetheart”
And he kept doing it every year
Nevermissed one.
just showed up, quietly, smile. No drama.
He didn’t try to win me back. He didn’t overstep.
Just showed up.
Lans started warming up. She was still guanded, but slowly, she let him in.
She even asked him to stay for cake one year.
They talked more.
She smiled more when he was around. Sometimes she’d draw pictures and show them to him.
They were rebuilding something.
Not what we had be something
One day, Luma asked me, “Do you think Dad regrets it?
1 looked at her..
“He regrets everything.”
She nodded. “I think so too.”
She looked out the window.
“Lam not angry anymore,” she whispered.
“This good to hear, sweetie,” I said.
That night, I found a letter in the mail.
No retum address
Just a simple note, in his handwriting.
*1 am proud of the woman you have become. And the daughter we raised. I’ll always be grateful for the time we had. Be happy, Anna. That is all I ever wanted.” No signature.
