Chapter 19 - FIVE YEARS LATE
One year after the flight to Chicago, Ryan took the boys to O’Hare.
Not because we were traveling.
Because Noah had asked to see the place where Ryan first saw them.
We stood near the same curb.
The boys were taller.
Louder.
More confident.
Mason pointed.
“Was Dad crying?”
Ryan looked offended.
“No.”
I laughed.
“He absolutely was.”
“I had something in my eye.”
“All three boys?”
Liam asked.
Ryan stared at him.
Then smiled.
“Yes.”
“All three.”
The last year had changed everything.
Charles was awaiting trial.
The Harrison board had been reorganized.
Ryan divided his voting shares between an employee trust, environmental foundations, and long-term trusts for the boys.
He kept enough control to prevent another Charles.
Not enough to become one.
My patents were restored publicly under my name.
Harrison Global’s headquarters displayed a new research wing.
THE SAMUEL PARKER CENTER FOR CLEAN ENERGY.
Ryan asked permission before naming it.
That mattered too.
More than grand gestures ever had.
We were not remarried.
We were dating.
Slowly.
Painfully.
Honestly.
Some days were easy.
Others were not.
Once, Ryan became jealous when Michael called about a research conference.
He went silent.
Then stopped himself.
“What is it?”
I asked.
“My brain is doing the old thing.”
“What old thing?”
“Inventing a story instead of asking.”
I smiled.
“Then ask.”
“Are you and Michael meeting privately?”
“Yes.”
Ryan’s face tightened.
“For research.”
“Yes.”
“Okay.”
“That’s it?”
“That’s it.”
It sounded ridiculous.
But trust was rebuilt through ridiculous little moments.
Not dramatic speeches.
At the airport, Noah ran ahead.
Ryan immediately called him back.
“Stay where I can see you.”
Noah laughed.
“You’re always worried.”
Ryan caught him.
“I missed four years.”
“I’m allowed to overcompensate a little.”
I watched them.
For years, I had imagined that seeing Ryan with his sons would only make me angry.
Instead, it made me mourn what we lost.
And appreciate what we had saved.
Then Julia called.
“Emily.”
“What happened?”
“Charles accepted a plea agreement.”
My stomach tightened.
“What did he get?”
“Twenty-two years.”
Ryan heard.
He said nothing.
Julia continued.
“There’s one condition.”
“What?”
“He asked to speak with you before sentencing.”
“No.”
“Emily, he says he has information about Arthur’s death.”
Ryan’s expression changed.
Julia added,
“And about the night Samuel Parker died.”
I closed my eyes.
May you like
The past was knocking one final time.
This time, I decided to open the door.
