Chapter 4 - Morning Light
The winter sun crept over the Manhattan skyline, painting the snow-covered rooftops of Central Park in shades of bruised pink and gold.
Inside the third-floor guest suite, Avery woke up to the smell of pancakes, maple syrup, and roasted bacon—smells that bore no resemblance to the instant oatmeal packets they usually shared in their cramped Queens kitchen.
She rubbed her hazel eyes, sitting up in a bed so large she felt like she was floating on a cloud.
The door pushed open quietly.
Ethan walked in carrying a silver tray loaded with breakfast, wearing a casual gray cashmere sweater instead of his usual tailored suit. He looked like he hadn't slept a wink, dark circles shadowing his eyes, but a tentative, nervous smile played on his lips.
"Morning, bug," Ethan said softly, setting the tray across her lap.
Avery stared at him, clutching the edge of the duvet. "Where's Mommy?"
"Mommy's downstairs talking with someone," Ethan said, pulling up a velvet chair and sitting beside the bed. "How did you sleep?"
"Good. The floor is warm." Avery looked down at the tray, her eyes lighting up. "Is all of this for me?"
"Every bite of it. Eat up." Ethan watched her with a fierce, possessive tenderness. Every time she blinked, he saw his own reflection in her eyes; every time she tilted her head, he recognized Hannah's mannerisms. "Hey, Avery? Remember that man in the old photograph? The one whose face was folded?"
Avery paused, a piece of bacon halfway to her mouth. "The house man?"
Ethan chuckled, a rich, genuine sound. "Yeah. The house man." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a brand-new, crisp, unfolded copy of the photograph—one his private investigator had somehow managed to digitally restore from an old backup file on his college laptop. He placed it beside her plate. "That house man... is me."
Avery blinked, looking from the photo to Ethan's face, comparing the sharp jawline and the hazel eyes. "Oh."
"Are you mad?" Ethan asked, suddenly anxious in a way he hadn't been in decades. "That I didn't know you were out there?"
May you like
Avery shook her head, chewing thoughtfully. "Mommy said adults make mistakes because they're tired. Are you tired?"
Ethan let out a long, shuddering breath, a wave of profound emotion washing over him. He reached out, gently ruffling her dark curls. "I was, bug. For a very long time. But I think I just woke up."
