Chapter 8 - A New Morning
The morning sun broke through the hotel blinds, painting golden stripes across the room. I woke up with a stiff neck from sleeping in the armchair, but the moment I opened my eyes and saw Sophie sitting cross-legged on the opposite bed, watching me with curiosity, every ache vanished.
She was holding her rabbit by one ear, her head tilted to the side. ""You're still here, mister.""
I smiled, sitting up and rubbing my eyes. ""I am. Good morning, Sophie.""
""My mom said your name is Grant,"" she said, squinting slightly. ""And she said you're a friend from a long, long time ago.""
Laura emerged from the small bathroom, carrying two paper cups of tea from the lobby. She caught my eye and offered a warm, reassuring smile that told me she had handled the morning conversation with exquisite care.
""Sophie,"" Laura said gently, sitting beside her on the bed. ""Remember how we talked about how families come in all shapes and sizes?""
Sophie nodded solemnly. ""Like how Jenny has two mommies and Leo has a grandpop.""
""That's right,"" Laura said, looking at me. ""And remember how I told you that your father had to go away for a very long time because of a big misunderstanding?""
Sophie’s eyes widened, darting between Laura and me. She looked at my nose, then reached up and touched her own nose. Then she looked at the little dent in my chin. ""Are you... my dad?""
A lump the size of a fist formed in my throat. I slid out of the chair and knelt beside the bed, keeping my movements slow and gentle. ""I am, Sophie. I made some very big, very foolish mistakes a long time ago, and I couldn't be there when you were growing up. But finding you yesterday was the greatest miracle of my entire life. And if you let me, I would love to be your dad from this day forward.""
Sophie looked down at her rabbit, running her thumb over the torn ear. ""Can you fix Barnaby?""
I blinked, surprised by the simple, innocent question. ""Barnaby?""
""His ear got caught in the vacuum cleaner three years ago,"" she explained matter-of-factly. ""Mom tried to sew it, but it still falls over.""
""Sophie,"" Laura chided gently, blushing. ""You don't need to ask—""
""I have the best needle-and-thread kit in the world at my house,"" I interrupted, smiling through my tears. ""And if I can't fix Barnaby's ear myself, I will hire the finest toy surgeon in America to make sure he's good as new.""
Sophie giggled—a bright, musical sound that filled the room with pure light. ""Okay. Then you can be my dad.""
Just then, my phone buzzed on the nightstand. It was David Lin.
I stepped near the window to take the call. ""David, what's the latest?""
""Brooke's formal arraignment is set for Monday morning,"" David reported. ""Her lawyers tried to argue for bail, but the judge saw the wire transfers to the Caymans and deemed her an immediate flight risk. She’s locked up tight. Also, the board convened early this morning. They want you back in Dallas to address the staff and reassure our investors.""
""I'm not coming back to Dallas alone, David,"" I said, watching Laura help Sophie brush her dark hair in the mirror. ""And I'm not running the company the way I used to. Call an executive search firm. I want a new CEO candidate list on my desk by next month.""
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David gasped on the line. ""You're stepping down?""
""I'm stepping up to what actually matters,"" I replied. ""Prepare my private jet to fly to Chicago to pick us up. Laura and Sophie are coming home.""
