Chapter 10 - THE SEA AND THE SUN
Six months later.
The summer sun reflected off the sparkling blue waters of the Long Island Sound, casting long, golden beams of light across the wide lawn of the Old Westbury estate.
The heavy iron security gates remained at the edge of the property, but the atmosphere inside the forty acres had changed completely. The dark, somber quiet of the stone mansion was now filled with the sound of laughter, running feet, and the gentle barking of a young golden retriever puppy chasing tennis balls across the green grass.
Near the marble swimming pool, a wide patio was set with a long wooden dining table covered in white linen, fresh flowers, and bowls of homemade pasta.
Elena sat in a comfortable wicker armchair under a wide cream umbrella, dressed in a simple, elegant yellow sundress that matched the color of the dress Lily had worn six months ago.
Her skin was full, warm, and radiant. The mechanical VAD had been successfully removed three weeks prior after her native heart muscle—supported by top-tier medication, rest, and absolute peace of mind—had recovered over seventy percent of its function, rendering a full transplant unnecessary.
Beside her, holding a glass of iced lemonade, sat Dr. Sarah Evans, chatting comfortably about the summer garden plans.
I stood near the edge of the patio, wearing a simple white linen shirt and trousers, holding a pair of binoculars as I watched Marco—the feared lieutenant of the Moretti organization—currently getting chased across the grass by a six-year-old girl holding a water gun.
"You're letting your guard down, boss," Marco yelled out, laughing as Lily cornered him near the rose bushes, blasting his dark suit trousers with a stream of water.
"You're sloppy, Marco!" I called back, a bright, genuine smile spreading across my face. "She outmaneuvered you from the left!"
Lily let out a triumphant squeal, running back toward the patio, her curls bouncing in the warm afternoon breeze, her sneakers white and brand new. She ran straight up to my chair, throwing her small arms around my legs.
"I got him!" she announced proudly, her grey-green eyes shining with absolute joy under the sun. "He fell right into the trap!"
"You're a true Moretti," I said, lifting her up into my arms, holding her high against my shoulder as she giggled.
Elena looked up at us from her chair, her brown eyes filled with a deep, serene happiness that no amount of money or power could ever buy.
She reached out, taking my hand in hers as I sat on the wide arm of her chair. Her fingers were warm, strong, and steady—no longer trembling, no longer cold.
"What are you thinking about?" Elena asked softly, leaning her head against my side.
I looked out over the vast, green estate—at the high stone walls that now protected a real family, at the clear blue sky above us, and down at the small silver watch resting in Lily’s small hand as she played with her puppy on the grass.
"I'm thinking about Fifty-Third Street," I said softly, looking down into Elena’s eyes. "About ninety-three-degree heat, a faded yellow dress, and a little girl holding a pharmacy bag."
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I leaned down, pressing my lips gently against Elena’s forehead, then reached out to pull Lily into my lap, holding both of them close against my chest as the warm summer wind blew across the lawn.
"I spent forty years thinking I was building an empire," I whispered into the quiet afternoon air. "I didn't realize I was just waiting for a six-year-old girl to teach me how to live."
