Yvonne let out a soft chuckle and took the envelope.

    “You’ve even included the coins and small bills.”

    “I’ve cost the Tate family quite a bit over the years,i” /ishe said. “When I left, I promised I’d help if you ever needed me. I meant it.”

    She lowered her gaze. “It’s good–clean and final. You really are a Tate through and through. Since you put it that way, I’ll ept it. How’s Penny Sullivan doing?”

    Yvonne knew all too well what it was like to grow up unwanted for being a girl, and in Penny, she saw a reflection of her younger self.

    “She’s waiting for the right moment to cut ties with the Sullivans.”

    Yvonne nodded, satisfied, and didn’t press further. She’d only learned about Penny and Alessia working together when she’d stumbled across one of Penny’s sketches by ident.

    She’d chosen not to mention it–not because she cared, but because she was curious to see how far the two would go.

    “I heard you know Xander Dawson?”

    “I’ll ask Father Benedict to check in on him,” Alessia replied, catching Yvonne’s

    meaning.

    “Thank iyou/ii./ii” /iTheir conversation was polite, almost distant–you’d never guess they’d been mother and daughter for seventeen years.

    “What about Max York?”

    “Tate Holdings is bankrupt. Scott’s in this state now, and there’s no hope for aeback. I’m nning to liquidate what’s left, take Scott and York to the estate overseas. Max is an adult–it’s up to him whether he wants toe or not. York refuses to leave. He’s been crying, insisting on staying. Max got fed up and took him out to get dinner.”

    That exined the sobbing on the phone, Alessia thought.

    “If he really doesn’t want to go, let him stay.”

    “You get along with those two better than we ever did,” Yvonne remarked, her voice calm, without a trace of sarcasm.

    “He’s never had a say in anything his whole life–you never raised him, never

    09:58

    thought about what he wanted. Whether you went abroad or came back, it was always your decision. Now he finally has friends here, and though he’s a handful, he’s changing for the better. Why uproot him again? It’d be kinder to let him stay, and visit on holidays–best of both worlds.”

    Yvonne was silent for a moment, but Alessia pressed on.

    “You had three children, but you never did what parents are supposed to ido/i. Max and I are grown, and York isn’t some helpless baby. Let him choose for himself. If he regrets it, it’ll be his own responsibility.”

    “Alessia!”

    Just then, York’s voice echoed down the hall. He broke free from Max and ran straight to Alessia.

    She rose to her feet, and York flung himself into her arms.

    “Alessia, I don’t want to go abroad. I want to stay here,” he pleaded, clinging to her, his voice thick with tears.

    Alessia smoothed his hair and nced at Yvonne, who sat rigidly in her chair, staring at the nk wall, lost in thought.

    “I brought some soup. You should eat something,” Max said, strolling over, handing

    Yvonne a takeout container.

    She stood, took the food from him, and shot a look at York, still huddled in Alessia’s arms. Without a word, she walked into the hospital room.

    The hallway fell quiet, just the three of them left.

    Alessia sat with York at her side, his small hand wrapped tightly around hers as if afraid she’d disappear. Max stood in front of them, tall and broad–shouldered, blocking out the light.

    Alessia looked up at him. He stared back, saying nothing.

    Finally, Max sighed and dropped into thest empty seat, with York wedged between them.