Nobody said a word.

We just watched as a ten-year-old girl reclaimed her mother’s memory.

Sophie adjusted the frame so it sat perfectly in the center of the mantel.

Then, she stepped back and smiled.

“She looks pretty there,” Sophie said.

“She does,” Luca agreed, his voice thick with unshed tears.

He walked over and kissed the top of Sophie’s head.

“Go get your pajamas on, sweetheart. We’ll watch a movie.”

“A Friday movie?” Sophie asked, her eyes lighting up.

“Every Friday from now on,” Luca promised.

Sophie ran off down the hallway.

Luca and I were left alone in the quiet room.

The fire popped, casting warm, golden light across the hardwood floor.

He turned to me, the exhaustion finally showing in the lines of his face.

But there was peace there, too.

“You saved us tonight, Claire.”

“You saved yourself,” I replied quietly.

He stepped closer. The distance between us, once defined by money and power and secrets, was completely gone.

“I don’t want to hide anymore,” Luca said. “No more secrets. No more rules taped to doors.”

He reached out and gently took my hand.

His thumb brushed over my knuckles.

“Will you stay?” he asked, echoing Sophie’s note.

I looked into his eyes.

I thought about my sister. I thought about Sarah. I thought about the little girl down the hall who had my blood in her veins.

“I’m right where I’m supposed to be,” I said.

Luca smiled.

It was the first time I had ever seen a real, unguarded smile on his face.

He pulled me into his arms, and as the sirens faded into the Chicago night, for the first time in a year, the house felt entirely like home.