Chapter 7 - The Penthouse
When the sleek private elevator opened directly into the foyer of Nathan’s multi-level penthouse suite in downtown Seattle, the three girls stood frozen in absolute awe.
The vast living room featured soaring twenty-foot floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the sparkling expanse of Puget Sound and the snow-capped peaks of the Olympic Mountains. Sunlight poured across white marble floors, plush silk rugs, and custom minimalist furniture.
Sophie gasped loudly, clutching her rabbit. “Ellie, look! It’s the castle from the book!”
Hannah walked slowly toward the glass wall, pressing her small nose against the clear panel. “Look at the tiny boats! They look like toys!”
Ellie didn't run to the window. She stood in the center of the foyer, looking at the massive oil paintings on the walls, her small hands clasped behind her back, taking in the sheer scale of the residence.
“Do you live here all by yourself?” Ellie asked Nathan, turning her dark blue eyes to him.
Nathan felt a sudden ache in his chest at the stark contrast between his vast, lonely penthouse and their small, love-filled apartment.
“I used to,” Nathan confessed, walking over to stand beside her. “And it was far too quiet. But starting today, it’s our home.”
Two elderly women in neat uniforms—Mrs. Gable, Nathan’s long-time housekeeper, and Mary, a certified pediatric nurse—stepped out from the kitchen carrying silver trays filled with warm cookies, fresh fruit, and three mugs of hot chocolate topped with mountains of whipped cream.
Mrs. Gable’s eyes were bright with tears as she looked at the three girls. “Welcome home, young ladies. Your rooms are completely ready.”
Over the course of five hours that morning, Nathan had mobilized a team of high-end interior designers and local furniture retailers to transform three guest suites on the upper floor into a children’s paradise.
When Nathan led the girls upstairs, Sophie let out a squeal of pure joy.
The central room featured three white wooden canopy beds draped in soft, sheer pink tulle. The walls had been painted a soft, soothing cream, covered with temporary hand-painted murals of magical forests and flying birds. Shelves were stacked high with hundreds of new storybooks, art supplies, stuffed animals, and every game imaginable.
In the center of the room sat a brand-new play table, identical in shape to the one from their old apartment, but crafted from smooth, warm cherry wood.
Hannah ran to one of the beds, jumping onto the soft mattress. “It’s like jumping on a cloud!”
Sophie immediately began arranging her new stuffed animals in a neat circle around Mr. Buttons, explaining the rules of the castle to them in a serious whisper.
Nathan stood in the doorway, watching them play, feeling a warmth spread through his life that no corporate victory or financial success had ever provided.
Arthur Vance stepped up beside him in the hallway, looking into the room with a gentle smile. “They look like they belong here, Nathan.”
“They do,” Nathan said softly. “Now I just need to bring their mother home.”
His phone buzzed in his pocket. Nathan pulled it out instantly.
The caller ID showed St. Catherine Medical Center.
May you like
He answered on the first ring. “This is Nathan Cole.”
“Mr. Cole, this is Dr. Harrison,” the physician’s voice came through clearly. “We have completely turned off Claire’s sedation medication. Her brain activity is increasing, and she is beginning to open her eyes. You should come back to the hospital now.”
