Chapter 16
Grace’s final major dental appointment happened six months later.
Erin almost cried in the waiting room.
Not from fear.
Money.
Old reflex.
She kept asking whether everything had been paid.
“Yes.”
“Everything?”
“Yes.”
“No surprise charge?”
“No.”
She looked suspicious.
“You sound annoyed.”
“I have answered six times.”
“Seven.”
Fair.
Grace came out smiling without covering her mouth.
That was worth every question.
She ran straight toward Erin.
Then stopped in front of me.
“Look.”
She smiled as wide as possible.
I nodded solemnly.
“Terrifying.”
She laughed.
Erin hit my arm lightly before remembering who I was.
Then froze.
I looked at her hand.
She pulled it back.
“Sorry.”
I almost sighed.
“Erin.”
“Yes?”
“You have apologized to me more than anyone I know.”
Her cheeks reddened.
“Occupational hazard.”
“No.”
I shook my head.
“Something else.”
She knew what I meant.
Years of needing permission.
Money.
Work.
Help.
Even outrage.
She had been trained to apologize before anybody could accuse her of asking too much.
Grace tugged her sleeve.
“Can we get pizza?”
Erin smiled.
“Yes.”
Then looked at me.
“You coming?”
I hesitated.
Not because I did not want to.
Because normal invitations still felt stranger than Mafia councils.
Grace rolled her eyes.
“He’s thinking.”
I looked at her.
“Dangerous habit.”
We went.
No private dining room.
No bodyguards at the table.
Just pizza.
Grace talked with her mouth full.
Erin told her not to.
I drank terrible soda.
May you like
And for one evening the daughter of a man my family betrayed did not have to negotiate dignity with anyone.
That felt more valuable than every charity ballroom I had ever entered.
