I can’t promise I’ll be here all the time. I don’t need you here all the time. I just need to know you’re coming back. I will. Always. She looked up at him. I don’t know how to do this, Lucas. How to let someone in again after everything that happened. Neither do I. So we figure it out together, make mistakes, try again.
That sounds exhausting. Probably. But worth it. Amelia smiled, small and uncertain, but real. Okay. Okay. Okay, let’s try. Let’s figure out what this is. Lucas felt something settle in his chest. Not relief, exactly. More like rightness, like pieces finally clicking into place. Good. He said. They sat there for a moment, hands still linked, the weight of the decision hanging between them.
Then Amelia stood, pulling him up with her. I should sleep. Tomorrow’s the science fair, and Emma will have me up at dawn. Probably. Lucas? Yeah? Thank you. For seeing me. The real me. Not just the billionaire or the disaster or the woman running from her problems. Thank you for staying, for choosing us. She kissed his cheek, quick and soft, then pulled back looking embarrassed.
Good night. Good night, Amelia. Lucas left before he could do something stupid like pull her close and kiss her properly. They had time for that. Time to figure out what they were building, brick by uncertain brick. For now, it was enough to know she was here. That she’d chosen to come back. That maybe, just maybe, they were both done running from the things that mattered.
Emma was up before dawn, just like Amelia predicted. Lucas heard her footsteps thundering down the hallway at 5:30 in the morning, followed by urgent knocking on the guest room door. Amelia. Amelia, wake up. We have to practice. Lucas intercepted her before she could knock again. Emma, it’s 5:30. I know.
The fair starts at 9:00. We need to practice the presentation and make sure all the plants look good and check the graphs. Breathe, sweetheart. The guest room door opened. Amelia stood there in pajamas, hair messy, looking more human than Lucas had ever seen her. It’s okay. I’m up. Really? Emma bounced on her toes. Can we start now? Give me 10 minutes to get dressed and caffeinated, then we’ll go over everything.
Emma ran back to her room. Lucas looked at Amelia apologetically. Sorry, she’s been wound up about this for days. Don’t be. I love that she cares this much. Amelia rubbed her eyes. Coffee? Already brewing. They went downstairs together. The kitchen was still dark. The sun just starting to paint the horizon gray.
Lucas poured coffee while Amelia sat at the table looking content in a way she never did in her corporate armor. You didn’t have to come back for this. Lucas said. The science fair, I mean. I could have helped her. I wanted to. I promised. She wrapped her hands around the mug. And honestly, this is the most normal thing I’ve done in years.
Helping a kid with a school project. It feels good. Even at 5:30 in the morning? Even then. Emma appeared with her project board, plants, and three notebooks full of data. For the next 2 hours, they ran through the presentation repeatedly. Amelia was patient but exacting, making Emma explain her methodology clearly, pushing her to defend her conclusions with evidence.
Why do you think the enriched soil produced better results? Amelia asked. Because it has more nutrients. That’s not specific enough. What nutrients? Why do those nutrients matter for plant growth? Emma flipped through her notes. Nitrogen helps leaves grow. Phosphorus helps roots. Potassium helps the whole plant stay healthy.
Better. Now explain it like I’m someone who doesn’t know anything about plants. They went through it again and again. By the time they had to leave for school, Emma could deliver her presentation in her sleep. Lucas drove them in the truck, project carefully secured in the back. Amelia riding shotgun with Mason in her lap.
The elementary school gym was transformed into a science fair wonderland. Dozens of display boards, kids in various states of nervousness, parents hovering anxiously. Emma found her assigned spot and started setting up with Amelia’s help. Lucas stood back with Mason, watching them work together like they’d been doing this for years.
Mr. Hayes? He turned. A woman in her 50s with kind eyes and teacher clothes approached. I’m Mrs. Patterson, Emma’s teacher. Right. Nice to finally meet you. And you must be She looked at Amelia uncertainly. Amelia Sterling, Amelia said, extending her hand. Family friend? Mrs. Patterson’s expression shifted slightly.
Recognition, maybe, or suspicion. I see. Well, Emma’s project is quite impressive. She clearly had excellent guidance. She did all the work herself, Amelia said. I just asked questions. Important questions, apparently. Mrs. Patterson smiled, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. If you’ll excuse me, I need to finish setting up. She walked away.
Lucas watched her go, uneasy prickling at the back of his neck. She knows who you are. He said quietly. Probably. I’m not exactly subtle. Amelia adjusted one of Emma’s plant displays. Does it bother you? Not yet. But I’m waiting for it, too. The fair started at 9:00. Parents and students circulated.
Judges moved from project to project with clipboards. And Emma stood by her display looking terrified and excited in equal measure. When the judges reached her station, Amelia squeezed her shoulder once and stepped back. Emma launched into her presentation. She was nervous, stumbling over a few words, but her passion came through.
She explained her hypothesis, walked through her methodology, showed her data with carefully drawn graphs. The judges asked questions. Emma answered them, glancing occasionally at Amelia for reassurance. When they finished, one judge smiled. Excellent work, Emma. Emma, very thorough. Emma beamed. After the judges moved on, she grabbed Amelia’s hand.
