10. Sadie

It"s been one month since Donnie and Ash left for college, and since then, I"ve felt a massive void in my heart. I miss their laughter, their company, and their presence. Knowing where they are is comforting, and so is the fact that I can contact them whenever I want.

We"ve been working in the kitchen for over an hour, and the tantalizing aroma of a mouthwatering medley of spices and herbs has enveloped the entire house.

As Mom fries the chicken in a pan, I cut up the fixings for the salad at the table, humming along to the catchy salsa tune as Sophia sits in her booster seat and bangs her empty plastic cup on the table, keeping up with the music.

Abuela grabs my hand and pulls me up from my seat with a cheerful "?Vamos!" She starts spinning me around in the cramped kitchen, and a laugh escapes my mouth. The rich smells of sofrito and garlic from the pot bubbling away on the stove fill the air. We twirl and laugh, my feet slipping over the worn tiles in my fuzzy socks while Abeula moves gracefully in time to the catchy beat.

As we dance, I catch Jo leaning against the doorframe, a smile spreading across his face. He's wearing a stylish long-sleeved shirt with jeans and a hat turned half to the side.

"Am I missing the party?" he jokes. Sophia hears his voice and immediately spins around in her chair to catch a glimpse of him. She starts babbling and gesturing excitedly, using her hands to make her point.

"Oh, yeah?" Jo pushes off the doorframe and crouches down to her height and engages with her as if they are having a meaningful conversation, eliciting giggles and smiles that are only for her Tio Jo. He places his hand gently on her head and gives her a tender kiss on the cheek.

"Don"t just stand there, mijo!" Abuela calls out in her raspy voice, beckoning him with a wave of her wooden spoon.

I start to laugh. "I don"t know if Josiah here remembers any of the moves you taught us, Abuela."

"My memory"s just fine," Josiah says.

Abuela grins, her wrinkled face glowing with pride and mischief. "This kitchen needs more dancers!" she says in Spanish, her voice full of energy and enthusiasm. "Josiah, turn up the radio. Claudia, take Sophia out of her chair. Sadie, push the table aside and make space."

As salsa music fills the warm, spicy air, Josiah sets Sophia down, holding her tiny hands as he guides her in an awkward, tottering dance. She giggles wildly, her soft brown curls bouncing. I scoop her up, kissing her cheeks as we spin in clumsy circles, and Jo holds his hands out for Mom to take. We laugh, sing, and dance until the music ends and we can finally catch our breaths. Jo and I move the table back to its original spot, and I securely place Sophia in her booster seat so we can resume working together to finish preparing dinner.

We haven"t had this much fun as a family for a long time, and it was long overdue. The memories of our day spent at the apple orchard with Papi come flooding back. That one day we spent as a family was filled with laughter, love, and happiness, creating a cherished memory that will stay with me forever. The brightness of that day from years ago seems to have faded away, leaving behind a sense of darkness that has only grown with time. However, moments like these make me believe our happy ending is still on the horizon.

Jo"s phone goes off as I finish making limber de coco and placing the cups in the freezer. He quickly pulls out his phone, and his face lights up upon reading the text.

"By the smile on your face, I take it it"s Elisa," I jest.

Still grinning from the message, Jo happily nods before tucking his phone back into his pocket. When he looks up, his eyes gleam with excitement. He meets my gaze and wears a playful grin.

Jo and Elisa have been spending a lot of time together lately, and their bond seems to grow stronger with each passing day. Elisa has finally started to open up to Jo, which is a huge step forward. They've been inseparable, spending almost every minute together, as if they are making up for lost time.

"Are you still staying for dinner?" Abuela asks in Spanish.

A huge grin spreads across Jo"s face as he replies, "Claro que si."

"Good," she replies with a nod of approval and turns back to the stove.

Just then, Jo leans over and whispers in my ear, "Sade, you got a minute?"

I glance over to see our mom watching us intently, but she quickly turns her attention to Sophia. "I"ll be back, baby," I say to Sophia as I gently rub her cheek and follow Jo out of the kitchen.

I follow Jo down the hall to his room. Jo and I enter his room, but I notice something is off as soon as the door closes. Jo throws a long envelope on the bed, and worry immediately climbs up my throat. "What"s this, Jo?"

He sits on the windowsill and points to the envelope. "That"s for you."

Curious, I walk to the bed and pick it up. Nashville Art and Design College is the sender. I feel like my entire life is about to change for better or worse. Jo notices my hesitation and asks, "Aren"t you going to open it?"

I shake my head, my lower lip tucked between my teeth. "I"m so nervous," I say, sitting on the bed. "Ash found a contest to win a full scholarship to the art college in Nashville," I add, my eyes never leaving the envelope.

"Close to Donnie," Jo says as a statement and not a question.

I nod, and he says, "So if you got in, you'll move away." As I glance at my brother, I feel overwhelmed with guilt. Jo has always been my rock, protector, and best friend. Tears well in my eyes, and my lips tremble as I realize what this could mean if I was accepted.

"Sade." Jo walks toward me with a deep sigh and sits beside me, holding my hand tightly. "I already told you I will support you in your decision. And I"ll be in the audience when you walk across that stage for your degree. I"ll be cheering you on, no matter what."

The silence in Jo"s room that follows is only broken by the gentle whirring of the oscillating fan, which casts a soothing breeze across the space.

He breaks the silence with a smile and says, "Congratulations."

Confused, I ask, "What are you talking about? I haven"t even opened the letter yet."

"I just know. A brother always knows," he says, kissing my head. "Just promise me we"ll talk every day because I"m going to go through major Sophia withdrawal."

The laugh that erupts from my chest is a welcome relief.

"If you need me to be in the room when you break the news to Mom and Abuela, just let me know. I"ll be there for you."

"Thank you, Jo," I say, trying to keep my emotions in check.

"Go." He nudges me with his elbow. "Call your boy and let him know you got in."

I keep my head down, staring at the letter in my hand. "I love you, Jo," I whisper.

"I love you too, Sade."

Forever and always.

It is a gloomy Thursday afternoon, and the sun is hidden behind the clouds due to the continuous rain that's been pouring for the past few days.

Sophia"s tiny finger points toward the state prison, and her innocent voice calls out, "Dadda!" It breaks my heart to see her so aware of the situation, knowing that her father is behind those walls.

Javi stands at the front door, holding it open for me. He exudes a confident aura of leadership with his broad shoulders and toned muscles that are accentuated by his close-fitting black shirt and dark jeans. His badge hangs around his neck, glinting in the light. "You ready?" he asks, his voice steady and reassuring.

I asked Javi to accompany me to break the news to Christian, hoping he will agree with my plan once he understands my reasoning. It took hours of coaxing him, and with Gabby"s help, Javi finally caved, and we were on our way to the facility where Christian is being held.

After checking in, we enter the visiting room to meet with Christian. As we walked in, the heavy steel doors clanged shut behind us.

We sit at the table, with Sophia in my lap and Javi beside me. I feel the tension rolling off him as Christian approaches us, wearing a standard-issue jumpsuit and with his hair cut into a buzz cut. His eyes dart between us, but they linger longer on Javi, and I see the worry etched on Christian"s face.

Once the bailiff uncuffs him, Christian rubs his wrists and sits across from us. Over the past few months, Christian has been getting better, and I can see it in his eyes. He looks healthier, and he has been taking his medications.

"I wasn"t expecting to see you guys today," he says softly. "Is everything okay? What"s going on?" he asks, his eyes searching ours for answers.

I take a deep breath and muster the courage to speak. "I have some news, Christian," I begin. "Sophia and I are moving to Tennessee. I got accepted into a college there."

As soon as the words leave my mouth, Christian"s eyes widen. I can tell he is struggling to process the news. "Tennessee? That"s so far away," he murmurs, his words laced with a sense of loss. "What am I supposed to do without being able to see Sophia?"

Sophia, who had been playing with her toys, seems to sense Christian"s sadness. She reaches for him with her little arms and hands, babbling happily. Her wide and infectious smile makes Christian smile, too. "Can I hold her?" His eyes never leaving Sophia"s face, he reaches out, as if hoping she will come to him willingly.

I flash a smile. "Of course." Sophia eagerly crawls over the table to reach him. Christian"s warm laughter echoes in the room, and for a moment, he seems like the boy he once was before everything went to shit. The memories of his past flood my mind, and I can"t help but wonder how different his life would be now if fate had been kinder to him.

"So, will I ever get to see you both again?" Christian asks, placing a soft kiss on Sophia"s head. Sophia jumps on his thighs and starts clapping her hands excitedly. Her little fist finds its way into her mouth as she bounces in place, showing off her adorable dimples.

"Well, that"s what we wanted to talk to you about," I say, glancing over at Javi. "Christian, this is my brother, Javier," I say, turning my attention back to Christian.

"Your brother?" he asks with wide eyes.

"It"s a long story, but he was able to find a way for you to stay close to Sophia," I say.

Javi"s voice is direct and unwavering when he speaks. "I can"t really say it"s nice to meet you, Christian," he says, his eyes fixed on the man across from us.

I let out a small sigh. "Javi," I whisper, saying his name to prevent him from starting a confrontation, especially in front of Sophia.

Javi"s hands are clasped together, and he leans forward on the table, his head tilted to the side as he watches Christian. His body language is assertive, and he makes it clear that he is not one to be messed with. Christian doesn"t look even slightly intimidated by Javi"s unwavering gaze.

"Forgive me, Sadie, but I"m staring at the man that beat the shit out of you while you were carrying my niece inside you." Javi directs his words at me but keeps his piercing eyes fixed on Christian. "You hurt my sister. Sadie may have forgiven you, but I sure as fuck haven"t. You"re lucky Jo didn"t finish the job of putting your ass into the ground. Because I can guaran-fuckin-tee the result would be much different had I been in that basement."

Javi"s words don't seem to affect Christian in the slightest. His demeanor remains calm and collected. He wears a faint respectful smile on his lips and acknowledges Javi"s words with a nod.

Christian"s voice is heavy with regret as he speaks. "I know I can never make things right with what I did," he says. "Hurting Sadie is my biggest regret. Not a day goes by that I don"t think about how badly I fucked up." He glances over at our daughter and then looks back at me with a sad expression. "Trust me when I say I wished he had finished the job." He pulls Sophia close to his chest and kisses her cheek. When he looks back up, his eyes are glazed over and full of remorse. "But," he says, his voice steadying, "I was given a second chance to be the man my daughter needs me to be." He turns to me with a determined expression. "I will never fail them again."

Javi"s voice is flat and unyielding as he replies. "Good, but I still don"t trust you."

Christian nods.

"For the sake of my niece, I have a solution," Javi announces with a stoney expression. "As an FBI agent, I can request a transfer for you to be stationed at the Tennessee state jail. That way, you can still see Sophia."

As if he's overwhelmed by the unexpected offer, Christian gently pats Sophia"s back as she falls asleep. He replies, "I don"t know what to say. Thank you."

Javi nods, his expression resolute. "If you accept, I"ll talk to my superiors and make it happen."

Without any hesitation, Christian replies, "Yeah, I accept."

The guard"s stern voice echoes in the room. "Time's up!" He walks toward Christian, who is hugging Sophia tightly. Christian plants a lingering kiss on Sophia"s head before standing up. Christian hands Sophia back to me.

"Congratulations, Reina. I"m so happy for you. You fucking deserve it and more." Christian speaks softly.

He pulls me into a tight embrace. I feel his heart beating against mine as he whispers, "Thank you for giving me a second chance."

My eyes fill with happy tears. "You"re welcome," I whisper back.

As I step out of Christian"s arms, the guard puts handcuffs on Christian's wrists, and Javi comes closer to me, placing his hand on my upper back. "Don"t worry," he says to Christian. "I"ll keep you updated. The transfer process could take up to two weeks."

Christian nods and gives me one last glance before the guard escorts him out. I watch his retreating figure until he disappears from view.