Lily bolted out of the car before I could stop her and was knocking so loudly on the window, I was afraid she’d shatter it. Delia sprang up, scattering papers in every direction, and raced out the door. When she reached Lily she sank down on her knees and threw her arms around her. The child hugged her back, and the two of them burst into tears. As I watched them, I felt a lump in my throat.

After a minute I knew I had to get them into the car in case Kearney showed up. I approached Delia slowly and tapped her on the shoulder.

“Delia?”

She looked as if she’d seen a ghost.

“Nora?”

I nodded. “Aye, Delia. It’s me.”

She stood up, rocking unsteadily on her feet. She looked as though she might faint. I took her by the arm.

“You and Lily need to get into the car now before Kearney sees you. He’s the one stole Lily.”

A steely glint appeared in Delia’s eyes. I’d never seen such a look from her in my life. I backed away.

“Why should I believe you?” she cried. “You’ve been here trying to ruin Aidan’s business just to get your revenge on me. How dare you, Nora? And if that wasn’t enough, you stole Lily. You’re still the selfish, greedy, malicious girl you always were.”

She was screaming now, ignoring the stares of people on the street.

“Get out of my sight,” she cried. “I wish you’d stayed dead!”

She put her arm around Lily and hurried away without looking back. There was no point calling out after her. I got in the car and told the driver to take me back to Dallas. Her words rang in my ears. She was right. I had persecuted her something awful when we were young, and I had tried to destroy her and Aidan. I deserved what I got from her.

“I’m sorry, Delia,” I murmured as I let my tears fall. “I’m sorry for everything.”

Delia

Delia

I clutched Lily’s hand tight and ran with her back into the hotel. Shane Kearney tried to block our way, but I ducked around him and took the stairs up to Aidan’s room two at a time, praying that Aidan would be there. Lily cried out to me to slow down, but I ignored her. I wouldn’t stop until she was safely in Aidan’s arms.

Aidan opened the door before I even knocked.

“Daddy!”

Lily ran to him and clutched him around the waist. He put his hand on her head and pulled her close. He stared at me and opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. I was so out of breath I couldn’t have answered him if they had. We stared at each other. I read gratitude in his eyes as his tears began to flow. I nodded.