Chapter 10: The Snow Globe And The Story

The next day was their absolute last in the windy city. Victoria had back-to-back meetings scheduled with another prospective client, so Mark and Lily spent the chilly afternoon visiting the Lincoln Park Zoo entirely on their own.

As they stood shivering slightly, watching the sleek sea lions glide through the freezing water, Lily suddenly looked up at him.

“I really like Victoria, Dad,” Lily said, pulling her knit hat down over her ears. “She makes you smile a lot.”

Mark was taken aback by the sudden observation. “Well, she is a very good boss, princess. And she has been incredibly kind to us on this trip.”

Lily gave him a look that was startlingly, unnervingly mature for a seven-year-old.

“Mom would really like her, too,” Lily stated with absolute, unwavering certainty.

Mark didn’t know exactly how to respond to that profound statement, so he simply pulled his daughter close, hugging her tightly against his winter coat.

That evening, the hotel room was a chaotic mess of open suitcases as they were frantically packing for their early morning flight the next day. A soft, unexpected knock at the suite door interrupted the chaos.

Mark opened the door to find Victoria standing in the hallway. She had changed out of her severe business suit and was wearing comfortable jeans and a soft cashmere sweater. She was nervously holding a brightly colored gift bag.

“I really hope I am not interrupting your packing,” Victoria said, shifting her weight slightly. “But I wanted to drop this off for Lily before you both leave tomorrow.”

Mark stepped aside, opening the door wider. “Please, come in. She is just finishing her dinner at the table.”

Victoria stepped into the suite. She handed the bag to Lily, who tore into the tissue paper with wild enthusiasm. Inside was a beautiful, intricately detailed snow globe of the Chicago skyline. It came with a handwritten, heartfelt note thanking Lily for showing her the beautiful city through new, magical eyes.

“That is so incredibly thoughtful of you,” Mark said, genuinely touched by the gesture.

Victoria hesitated, looking toward the door. “I should let you get back to packing.”

“Can Victoria hear my goodnight story tonight, Dad?” Lily suddenly pleaded, jumping up from her chair and grabbing Victoria’s hand. “Please? Just one story?”

Mark looked to Victoria, entirely expecting her to politely decline the intimate invitation. But Victoria seemed surprised, and deeply, genuinely pleased.

“If your dad doesn’t mind, I would be absolutely honored to hear a story,” Victoria said softly.

So, in a surreal, beautiful moment, Mark sat on the edge of the large hotel bed and read a fairytale. Lily was snuggled securely on one side of him, and Victoria was perched somewhat awkwardly, yet contentedly, on the other edge of the mattress.

By the end of the dragon’s great adventure, Lily’s eyes were drooping heavily.

“Time for the goodnight text,” Mark whispered, gently reaching into his pocket for his phone to continue the sacred tradition.

“Can you send one to Victoria, too?” Lily asked sleepily, her eyes already closed. “So she knows we love her.”

Mark froze completely. His thumb hovered rigidly over the glowing screen. He was instantly, painfully embarrassed by his daughter’s massive, emotional presumption.

“Lily, sweetie, that’s not—” Mark started to scold her gently.

“It is totally okay, Mark,” Victoria interrupted quickly.

Mark looked over at her. Victoria’s eyes were shimmering with highly unusual, raw emotion. She reached out and gently stroked Lily’s hair.

“That is very, very sweet of you, Lily,” Victoria whispered to the sleeping child.

After he was certain Lily had fallen into a deep sleep, Mark quietly walked Victoria back to the suite door. The hallway was silent and dim.

“I am so sorry if that was uncomfortable for you,” Mark whispered, running a hand through his hair. “She gets very attached to kind people very quickly.”

Victoria shook her head firmly. “Do not apologize, Mark. It was wonderful.” She hesitated, her hand resting on the brass door handle. “This entire trip has been unexpectedly, profoundly meaningful to me.”

There was a long moment of highly charged, electric silence between them. The space was filled with a thousand heavy things neither of them was quite brave enough to articulate out loud.

“Safe travels tomorrow morning,” Victoria finally said, breaking the spell. “I will see you back in the Boston office.”

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