Verena and Benny slept peacefully last night. When she opened her eyes she saw round eyes staring at her.
Little benny had been sitting there waiting for her to wake up.
"Good morning, Auntie." Benny greeted her sweetly with his milky teeth.
"Good morning, Little bunny."
"Bunny? Mm, I like it only when auntie call me this." Benny said with a grin.
"Tell me how old are you?" She asked him.
"I am four…" Verena recalled her son would be almost five this year same as Benny.
"Did you wash up?"
He nodded. "Yes. I want auntie to wash up…"
"I don't have to…"
"Daddy said, call the maid; when you wake up so she can help you wash up. I will call her now."
He walked out like an adult taking care of her. She was touched when she saw him bring towels with him.
"Good morning, young madam." A girl with honey brown hair walked in.
Verena was stuck by her beauty and smiled at her. "Just call me Verena."
She didn't want any respect.
The girl was hesitant at first but she threw the thoughts out of her mind and came closer. "Let me help you…"
The young girl put the bowl and started wiping her face with the towel.
During wiping, Verena glanced at Benny who was holding his face in his palms watching the process carefully.
"Why are you looking like that?" She asked wanting to pinch his cheek but her hand was bandaged.
"I am learning so next time I will help you clean your face."
Verena felt tears welled up in her eyes.
"Young master like you so much, madam." The maid informed. "He keeps talking about you in the house."
"He is such a good boy." Verena smiled at him dearly.
Verena leaned back against the pillow, blinking rapidly to keep her tears from falling. The warmth in her chest spread like sunlight through a crack in a long-shut window. She hadn't felt this kind of tenderness in what felt like a lifetime.
Benny scooted closer, now sitting at the edge of the bed, his little legs swinging. "Auntie… can I tell you a secret?"
She nodded, "Of course."
He leaned in, cupping a hand to her ear like a real conspirator. "I dreamed you became my real mommy."
Verena froze.
Her lips parted slightly, but no sound came out.
Her heart clenched in her chest, caught between the grief of what she'd lost and the aching sweetness of what stood in front of her now.
Before she could respond, Benny pulled back and added in a shy whisper, "But I know you're not. I just… wish you were."
She finally reached up despite her bandaged hand and gently rested it on his soft hair. "You're a very kind boy, Benny. That's the sweetest dream anyone's ever told me."
The maid, finishing her task, stepped back with a quiet smile. "Young master doesn't open up to people easily, Miss Verena. It's rare for him to say things like this."
Verena smiled faintly, brushing her fingers once more through Benny's hair. "He's special. Anyone who can't see that doesn't deserve him."
Just then, the door creaked open.
Louis stood in the doorway, tall and composed, dressed sharply in a tailored navy shirt with sleeves rolled to the forearms. His eyes moved between Verena and Benny, pausing briefly when they met Verena's.
"Is she ready for breakfast?" he asked the maid without looking at her.
"She just woke up, sir," the maid answered politely. "I've helped her clean up."
"Good. I had the chef make something lighter today."
Benny perked up. "Daddy made him cook Auntie's favorite!"
Louis raised an eyebrow at his son and put his hands inside his pockets. "And how would I know what her favorite is?"
"She likes spicy pasta with ginger. She said it yesterday," Benny answered proudly, like it had been a great deduction. "So I told the chef!"
Louis looked at Verena again, then gave a rare nod of approval to his son. "Good memory."
Verena gave a faint smile but looked away, trying not to show how much that small kindness stirred something in her.
For a man so guarded and cold, Louis allowed little Benny's warmth to soften him—and now, somehow, that warmth was spreading to her.
…
A maid gently pushed Verena's wheelchair into the sunny dining room, her pace slow and respectful.
Verena was dressed in a light cotton dress, her hair neatly tied back.
Though her foot was still bandaged and she couldn't walk yet, she kept her chin up, pretending she didn't feel awkward about being wheeled in like some fragile old lady.
Louis was already seated at the head of the long marble table, reading a report.
Little Benny sat beside him, eagerly swinging his legs and waiting for her.
"Auntie! Sit next to me," Benny called out cheerfully, pointing at the empty seat beside him.
Verena gave him a warm smile. "Of course, Bunny."
The maid carefully wheeled her into place, locking the brakes and adjusting the cushion behind her.
Just as she picked up the spoon to start eating the warm bowl of pasta, her phone, which had been resting on her lap, buzzed.
She looked down. The number was unfamiliar.
Hesitating a moment, she swiped to answer. "Hello?"
A breathless voice came through, panicked and rushed. "Is this Verena Bradbury?"
"Yes, speaking," she said, her voice cautious. "Who is this?"
"I'm sorry to call like this—my name's Tomas. I'm from the Southridge Cemetery office. Someone gave me your number last year. I—I thought you'd want to know."
She understood it must be Vandeleur's
Verena's posture straightened. "Know what?"
"It's about your mother's grave plot. The payments… they stopped two weeks ago. Since no one replied to our notices, and the payment plan defaulted, the plot's been sold to another family."
"What?!" Verena's voice shot up slightly, the spoon clattering against her bowl.
Across the table, Benny jumped a little, startled, while Louis calmly set down his report and looked up, brows knitting.