Lily Thompson I tore my gaze away from the man standing before me, focusing instead on my daughter, who beamed up at me with unwavering excitement. Her innocence was a soothing balm to my racing thoughts, grounding me in the present moment. Taking a deep breath to steady my nerves, I mustered a smile for her sake and knelt down. "Thank you, sweetheart," I said softly, reaching out to ruffle her hair affectionately. "But why don't you go inside and start on your homework? Mommy needs to have a little chat with our guest." My daughter's smile faded for a moment, her brow furrowing in confusion, but she nodded obediently and scampered inside, leaving the two of us alone on the porch. Once she was out of earshot, I stood up and turned my attention back to the man standing before me, the man whose presence dredged up memories I had long buried beneath the weight of time. "Ryan," I whispered, his name a ghost on my lips as I struggled to find my voice. He nodded, his gaze never leavin
Read more