Chapter 33

Annie's POV

Lucy was still holding my hand as we walked into the house, practically skipping with leftover excitement from our outing. Her notebookclutched tightly against her chest, she kept stealing glances up at me with bright eyes,clearly bursting to show off her latest drawings. That infectious joy vanished the instant she spotted Thomas waiting in the living room.

She ducked behind me with the practiced stealth of a child who thought she couldn't be seen if she couldn't see others, though her fluffy pigtails still poked out on either side of my legs. When Thomas stood up with his usual cheerful greeting, Lucy responded by trying to make herself even smaller, her little fingers twisting anxiously in my skirt.

"Time for today's training!" Thomas announced, and Lucy immediately thrust her notebook forward like a shield, pointing earnestly at her unfinished drawings. When that didn't work, she tilted her head back to give me her best puppy-dog eyes -a new technique she'd been perfecting lately, though the effect was somewhat spoiled by her trying too hard not to smile.

Howard stepped forward, clearly fighting back a smile at her theatrical display. "Perhaps we could all join in today," he suggested,already loosening his tie. Lucy's eyes lit up at this unexpected development. She straightened up,though she kept a firm grip on both my hand and her precious notebook as we made our way to the backyard. Her excitement at having us participate was obvious in the way she bounced on her toes, even if she tried to maintain what she probably thought was a serious expression. She nodded sleepily, making no protest when Howard scooped her up.Her head nestled naturally against his shoulder, one small hand still clutching her notebook while the other reached out to grab a fistful of my sleeve, as if to make sure I was coming too. By the time we reached her awing to running. She took off with all the coordination of an excited puppy, her little legs moving in their own unique rhythm as her arms windmilled enthusiastically. Her ponytails bobbed wildly out of sync with each other, and she kept glancing down at her feet as if to make sure they were still doing what she told them to. Howard and I jogged beside her,trying not to chuckle at her endearingly wobbly run. As she passed the hundred-meter mark, her face scrunched up in concentration, tongue peeking out slightly at the corner of her mouth - a habit that appeared whenever she was trying extra hard at something.

The final stretch proved to be the biggest challenge. Her pace slowed, but that determined little frown stayed firmly in place. Just when it seemed her energy might give out, she caught sight of a butterfly near the finish line. Suddenly energized, she made a wobbly dash toward it,arms outstretched, completely forgetting this was supposed to be a serious training session. She crossed the finish line in pursuit of her winged friend,then promptly flopped onto the grass, her chest heaving with exertion but a triumphant smile on her face.

"Did you see?" she whispered breathlessly to me, pointing at the butterfly that was now well out of reach. "It was purple!"

Howard knelt beside her, gently brushing grass from her disheveled pigtails. "Well done, little one." The warmth in his voice made Lucy beam with pride, even as she tried to stifle a huge yawn. "Should we get you cleaned up for bed?" room,she was already drifting off, murmuring something about purple butterflies and running shoes.

The night air had grown cooler as Howard and I stood on the balcony.The city lights spread out below us, but my attention was focused on the conversation at hand.

"I spoke with her teacher today," Howard broke the silence, his voice carrying an edge of frustration. "They claimedto be unaware of any specific issues."

I turned to study his expression, noting the tension in his jaw. "Then perhaps we should focus on her classmates. If they're the ones isolating her, they must know why."

The implications hung heavy in the air between us. Lucy's selective mutism made her an easy target for exclusion, but lately, I'd begun to suspect there was more to the story.

"I've been thinking," I ventured carefully. "Initially, I believed we shouldn't rush Lucy's progress - that she should heal at her own pace. But after what we've seen recently..." I paused, organizing my thoughts. "I think we need to be more proactive about helping he communicate with others.What's your take on this?" Howard's hands tightened imperceptibly on the railing. "I share your concerns." "She seems to open up more easily with people she's comfortable with,"I continued, thinking aloud. "People she trusts." "Her grandparents," Howard nodded. "She's always been closest to them." "Why don't we invite them over tomorrow?" The suggestion felt right the moment it left my lips. "Having more people she trusts around might help her feel secure enough to take those first steps."

"I'll make the arrangements." Howard's approval was immediate.A comfortable silence settled between us as we both contemplated the evening s small victories.

"Stay a while?" Howard's invitation was casual, but something in his tone made my pulse quicken. "The night's still young."

I should have declined. Should have made an excuse about work tomorrow or needing rest. Instead, I found myself nodding,drawn into the quiet intimacy of the moment.

"I've been meaning to thank you," the words tumbled out before I could stop them. "For everything - the opportunity to care for Lucy,the position at the company..."

"Annie." Howard's interruption was gentle but firm. "You earned those positions on your own merit. No one else could have connected with Lucy the way you have, or helped her make such progress. And your artwork?"His smile carried a warmth that made my chest tight. "That talent is entirely your own." The sincerity in his voice threatened to undo me completely. Panic fluttered in my chest as I realized how dangerously close we were to crossing lines that shouldn't be crossed. "I heard you and Catherine Morgan have been spending time together lately?" The words escaped before I could stop them,immediately followed by a wave of mortification. Howard's expression shifted, but before he could respond, I rushed to cover my obvious jealousy. "Not that it's any of my business, of course. Lucy needs to be our priority right now, and I'm still finding my footing at work..." I was babbling now, desperate to escapethe vulnerability I'd accidentally exposed. "I should probably get some rest. Early meeting tomorrow."

I fled before he could respond, my cheeks burning with embarrassment.The rational part of my brain listed all the reasons this was for the best:

1\. Lucy needed stability, not complications

2\. I had to prove myself at work

3\. Margaret Thompson would never approve

But none of those perfectly logical reasons could quite silence the part of me that wondered what Howard had been about to say. The part that remembered the warmth in his eyes when he praised my work,or the way his presence made me feel simultaneously safe and thrillingly alive.

As I got ready for bed, I told myself firmly that tomorrow I would focus on work and Lucy. Everything else was just a distraction I couldn't afford.

But as sleep finally claimed me, I couldn't quite forget the way Howard had looked at me, or the words left unspoken between us.