Chapter 10 - THE NEW STAR
A year after that fateful Saturday at the aquarium, I took Miles, Mae, and Lily back to Tidewater Aquarium.
It wasn't Reid's idea. It was ours.
We walked through the touch pools, laughed at the sea otters, and bought giant buckets of buttered popcorn at the café.
Finally, we stood in front of the massive floor-to-ceiling shark tank gallery.
The water was clear, glowing blue under the spotlight beams. Sand tiger sharks glided gracefully through the deep water, their sharp teeth gleaming as they swam past the glass.
On the other side of the tank, the Private Viewing Deck was lit up. A group of tourists stood behind the VIP railing, taking photos.
Miles stood beside me, holding my hand. He wasn't pressing his face against the glass anymore. He wasn't looking for someone across the water.
He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a new drawing he had made that morning.
It showed our yellow house, a big green oak tree, a tire swing, and four people holding hands: me, Miles, Mae, and little Lily. Over the top of the house, he had drawn a huge, brilliant gold star.
"Look, Mom," Miles said, holding the paper against the glass, letting the blue light reflect off his bright smile.
"What's that star for, buddy?" I asked, bending down to wrap my arm around his shoulders.
Mae stepped up on his other side, holding Lily’s hand.
"It's our home," Miles said proudly, looking up at me with clear, fearless hazel eyes. "It's where we belong. On this side of the glass."
I pulled all three of them into a tight, warm hug right there in the middle of the crowded gallery.
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The sharks glided past us in the deep, blue water, but none of us were looking back anymore. We were looking straight ahead, into a bright, beautiful, and honest future together.
(The End)
