Chapter 9 - The Birthday Gift
Six months later.
It was a bright, sunny Saturday morning in early June.
The back garden of the Mercer Island estate was decorated with hundreds of rainbow balloons, giant bouncy castles, ice cream stations, and a stage where a magician was performing tricks for thirty laughing children from Amy’s new private academy.
Amy was celebrating her seventh birthday.
Sophie sat on a plush garden sofa under a white canvas umbrella, holding a glass of iced tea, watching her daughter run across the green lawn with her friends.
Ethan walked over, wearing a comfortable dark linen shirt and sunglasses. He set a large silver key down on the small table beside her.
Sophie raised an eyebrow, looking up at her husband. "What is that?"
"Amy’s birthday present," Ethan said, sitting down beside her and wrapping his arm around her waist.
Sophie laughed. "Ethan, you already bought her a pony and a private playground. What is that key for?"
"That key belongs to the newly renovated Miller Children's Foundation Building downtown," Ethan explained softly, kissing her temple. "The top three floors of Cole Tower have been permanently converted into a free daycare, medical clinic, and learning center for the children of night-shift custodial workers in Seattle."
Sophie’s breath caught in her throat. She stared at the silver key, her heart swelling with an emotion so powerful it made her eyes sting.
"Ethan..." she whispered, covering her mouth with her hand.
"No child in this city will ever have to sit in the rain waiting for their mother," Ethan said quietly, his voice filled with deep, redemptive peace. "And no mother will ever have to choose between keeping her job or protecting her child."
Sophie turned in his arms, wrapping her hands around his face, pulling him down into a passionate, loving kiss right there in the bright sunshine.
"You are the best man in the world," Sophie murmured against his lips.
"Only because you saved me," Ethan replied softly.
"Hey! Mom! Dad! Look!" Amy’s loud, joyful voice called out from the lawn.
They looked over. Amy was running toward them across the grass, holding a large piece of chocolate birthday cake on a paper plate.
She ran up the porch steps, panting happily, and handed the plate to Ethan.
"I saved the biggest piece for you, Dad!" Amy beamed, her face smeared with pink frosting. "Because you're my hero!"
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Ethan looked down at the chocolate cake, then looked at his small, beautiful daughter who had called him Dad for the very first time.
The ruthless mafia king dropped to his knees in the grass, pulling Amy into a tight, warm embrace, kissing her frosted cheek while holding Sophie’s hand tightly in his own.
