"I've been falling apart for 2 hours." "At some point I need to pull myself together enough to pick her up and tell her." "You want me to come with you?" Clara looked at him like he'd offered her something precious. "Really?"
"Yeah, if you want." "I want." They picked up Lily together at 3:00. She came running out of the school building, her backpack bouncing, signing something excited about art class. Then she saw both of them and stopped, her expression shifting to confusion.
"What's wrong?" She signed to Clara. "Nothing's wrong, baby. Get in the truck. We need to talk to you."
Lily climbed in, her eyes darting between them nervously. They drove to the park, the same one where they'd taken the kids that first Sunday together. Clara led Lily to a bench while Ethan hung back, giving them space. Clara's hands moved slowly, carefully forming each sign. Ethan couldn't understand most of it, but he caught the important words.
"Official." "Forever." "My daughter." Lily went very still. Her hands lifted, then dropped.
She signed something short. Clara nodded, tears streaming down her face. Lily signed again, more urgent. Yes, Clara signed back. Really real.
You're my daughter now. No one can take you away, ever. Lilly launched herself at Clara and they both started crying. Ethan turned away, giving them privacy. His own eyes burning.
After a few minutes, Lilly pulled back and signed something to Clara, then pointed at Ethan. She wants you, Clara called. Ethan walked over. Lilly signed something, her face serious. She wants to know if you're staying, too, Clara translated.
If this means you're part of the family. Ethan crouched down to Lilly's level. Yeah, kid. I'm staying, if that's okay with you. Lilly nodded solemnly, then signed something else.
Clara laughed through her tears. She says good because you still owe her a birthday party next month and she was worried you'd forget. Not a chance. Already planning it. They went out for dinner to celebrate, a diner Lilly picked because they had good milkshakes.
The food was mediocre, but no one cared. They were too busy being happy. Afterward, back at the apartment, Lilly went straight to her room and started rearranging her bookshelf again. Through the door, Ethan could hear her humming. A tuneless sound that was more vibration than music, but it meant she was content.
She does that when she's happy, Clara said, standing beside him. Hums. She can't hear it, but she likes how it feels in her chest. That's the best thing I've heard all day. Clara leaned against him.
Thank you for everything. For the lawyer, for being here, for all of it. You don't have to thank me. Yeah, I do. None of this would have happened without you.
You would have figured it out. Maybe, eventually, but you made it possible now, when it mattered. She turned to look up at him. I know I gave you hell about the money thing, but I'm grateful. Really grateful.
I know. They stood there for a moment listening to Lily hum and move books around. I've been thinking, Clara said carefully, about what comes next. Yeah? The apartment is too small.
Now that it's official, now that she's really mine, I need to find something better. More space, better neighborhood, maybe even a place where things actually work. Ethan chose his words carefully. You want help looking? No, I want to do it myself, but she hesitated.
I wouldn't mind if you came along for moral support. I can do that. And Ethan, no suggestions about places I can't afford. I need to do this within my actual budget. What if I see something perfect?
Then you keep your mouth shut and let me find my own perfect. He smiled. Deal. Over the next 2 weeks, they looked at apartments all over Spokane. Most were barely better than what Clara already had.
Some were worse. A few were promising, but got snatched up before Clara could even submit an application. This is impossible, she said after the sixth showing fell through. Everything decent is either too expensive or already taken. You'll find something.
When? Lily's birthday is in 2 weeks, and I wanted to have this figured out by then. So, it takes longer. That's okay. Easy for you to say.
You're not living in a place where the heat cuts out every time it gets below freezing. Ethan bit his tongue on about five different offers to just buy her a place. Keep looking. Something will turn up. Something did turn up, but not in the way either of them expected.
Ethan was at a job site when his phone rang. His property manager calling about one of the apartment buildings Mercer Industries owned as an investment. We've got a vacancy in the Riverside complex, the manager said. Two-bedroom, first floor, just renovated. Thought you might know someone interested.
Ethan knew the building. It was in a decent neighborhood, well-maintained, safe. The rents were reasonable because Mercer Industries didn't need to extract maximum profit from every property. How much? He asked.
The manager quoted a number that was exactly within Clara's budget. Hold it, Ethan said. Don't list it yet. You have someone in mind? Maybe.
Let me make a call. He hung up and immediately dialed Clara. Hey, she answered. What's up? I might have found something.
A two-bedroom in the Riverside complex. First floor, just renovated, within your budget. How did you find it? Here it was, the moment where he had to decide between complete honesty and letting her think this was luck. My company owns the building, he said.
We just had a vacancy come up. Silence on the other end. Clara? Your company owns apartment buildings? A few, as investments.