Chapter 10 - A New Chapter
Three weeks later, life in Queens had returned to a semblance of normal, though nothing was truly the same.
The federal restitution process had already begun releasing the frozen assets from Julian’s fraudulent accounts back into a legitimate, secure trust fund bearing Lily’s and my name. The financial burden that had forced me to work seventy-hour weeks at St. Catherine’s vanished overnight. I didn't quit nursing—I loved my job too much to ever give it up—but I cut my shifts down to a healthy schedule, giving me actual evenings to spend reading bedtime stories and baking pancakes.
The bell above the bakery door chimed cheerfully as I walked into a small, sunlit café in Tribeca, holding Lily’s small hand in mine.
Inside, sitting at a corner booth by the window, was a man in a tailored charcoal suit who looked up immediately as the door opened.
Lily squealed with delight, letting go of my hand and running straight toward the table.
"Mr. Dominic!" she shouted, climbing uninvited into the booth right across from him—just like she had that very first night at Beluchi’s.
Dominic caught her easily, a genuine, warm smile breaking across his handsome face as he lifted her onto the seat. "Well, if it isn't my favorite date. Where’s Mr. Buttons?"
"He's in my backpack," Lily giggled, pulling out a small strawberry pastry from the bakery display. "Mommy said I could have a treat because I got a gold star in kindergarten today."
I walked over slowly, sliding into the booth next to Dominic. The space felt warm, comfortable, and completely right.
Dominic looked across the table at me, his dark eyes catching the afternoon sunlight filtering through the glass.
"A gold star," Dominic murmured, a quiet, knowing smile playing on his lips. "It looks like intelligence runs in the family."
I reached across the table, letting my hand brush against his fingers. He turned his hand over, interlocking his fingers securely with mine.
"We're going to the park this afternoon," I said, a genuine smile spreading across my face. "You're welcome to join us... if you don't have any mafia business to attend to."
May you like
Dominic chuckled, squeezing my hand tightly. "All my important business is right here."
As Lily chattered happily about her day, pointing out shapes in the clouds through the café window, I realized the ghost of my past was finally gone. The dark days were behind us, and for the first time in four years, the future looked bright, beautiful, and entirely our own.
