Chapter 6 - Return to Boston
Three days later, I was sitting in the back of a black Town Car driving through the historic streets of Beacon Hill, Boston.
The contrast between my life three days ago and my life now was so stark it gave me vertigo. In Denver, I had been worrying about whether my sixteen-dollar debit card balance would cover a tin of baby formula. Today, I was dressed in a soft wool coat that Grandma had purchased for me during a brief stopover, and Lily was wrapped in a hand-knitted cashmere blanket.
The car pulled up to a magnificent brownstone overlooking the Public Garden.
"Welcome home, Nora," Grandma said as the driver opened the door.
This was the Whitmore ancestral estate—a four-story Victorian home filled with family history, oil paintings, and warmth. Grandma had lived here since marrying my late grandfather forty years ago.
As we entered the foyer, a warm fire crackled in the hearth. A house manager named Thomas took our coats and greeted us with genuine warmth.
"Your rooms on the second floor have been prepared, Miss Nora," Thomas said respectfully. "A crib has been set up in the adjoining nursery."
I walked up the grand mahogany staircase, holding Lily. My new bedroom was larger than my entire apartment in Denver. It had a working fireplace, plush oriental rugs, and French doors that opened onto a balcony overlooking the garden. In the adjoining room, a beautifully crafted white crib stood ready, surrounded by new wooden toys, organic cotton clothes, and soft lighting.
I set Lily down in her crib. She stretched her tiny arms, let out a soft coo, and fell asleep immediately.
I sat on the edge of the bed and finally broke down.
I cried for Evan, who had died so suddenly on that icy highway. I cried for the terrifying nights I had spent clutching a calculator at the grocery store. I cried for the shame I had felt when my landlord posted a late-rent notice on my door while my family lived in luxury.
A soft knock sounded at the door. Grandma walked in, carrying two silver mugs of hot chocolate.
She set the mugs on the nightstand and sat beside me, wrapping her arm around my shoulders.
"Let it out, child," she murmured, pulling me close. "You've been carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders for too long."
"I missed Evan so much, Grandma," I sobbed into her shoulder. "And I was so scared I wouldn't be able to feed Lily."
"Evan was a good man," Grandma said, her voice thick with emotion. "He worked hard, and he loved you dearly. His death was a tragedy, but what my family did to you in his absence was a crime. You are safe now, Nora. You never have to worry about rent, or food, or medical bills ever again."
May you like
"I want to work, Grandma," I said, wiping my eyes and looking at her. "I don't want to just live on your charity. I want to build a life for Lily."
Grandma smiled, her eyes twinkling with pride. "And you will. But first, you are going to heal. And second... we have some business to finish with Julian."
