Chapter 14 - The Return to the Chicago Mansion and the Dinner Table With No More Empty Chairs
A month after Noah's successful surgery, we celebrated his eleventh birthday in the grand dining room of the Chicago mansion.
The chandeliers blazed with golden light. The silver flower stands were back in their proper places, far away from any walking routes. And around the twenty-eight-seat mahogany table sat twenty-eight of our closest friends, pediatric specialists, and foundation directors—people who truly loved and supported the family.
There were no empty chairs.
Noah walked into the dining room under his own power, carrying his white cane in his left hand just out of habit, though he didn't need it to navigate the familiar marble floor anymore. He walked straight up to his usual seat beside his father's chair.
As the staff served the main course—including custom blueberry pancakes with chocolate chip smiley faces—Luca stood up at the head of the table and raised his crystal glass of champagne.
"To new beginnings," Luca said, looking around the room before locking his dark, loving eyes onto me. "And to the people who teach us that family isn't about perfection, but about standing together when the dark tries to pull us apart."
Everyone raised their glasses.
"To family!" the table cheered in unison.
Noah nudged my arm with his elbow, grinning ear to ear. "Hey, Miss Hannah?"
"Yes, buddy?"
"Does this mean you're officially part of the team forever now?"
Before I could answer, Luca reached across the table, took my hand in his warm, strong grip, and slipped a stunning diamond ring onto my left ring finger—not an emerald-cut stone left in a glass of champagne by a bitter stranger, but a delicate vintage band set with a tiny, brilliant blue sapphire that caught the light like a star.
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"She's not just part of the team, buddy," Luca smiled softly, kissing the back of my hand. "She's your new mom."
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