Semua Bab RECKLESS DESIRES: THE ODEN LEGACY : Bab 91 - Bab 96

"You look like the end of every man's prayer," Luke said, adjusting his cufflink but never once breaking eye contact with Amiriam.She took a step closer, her gossamer silver slit in her dress flashing with the light of the chandelier as she smiled. "And you look like trouble in a tux," she said softly, her crimson lips curling into a smile that made something deep within Luke ache in the best way possible.James, standing next to them in his own small suit, tugged on Luke's jacket. "I'm in grown-up clothes, can I have two puddings tonight?"Luke smiled, kneeling down to adjust James's bowtie. "Only if you promise not to doze off during the speeches again.""I make no promises," James said solemnly.Amiriam smiled, watching the two of them. Luke Oden—rough, disorganized, flawed—had rounded out at the edges, like a man learning to be human again. And James? James was blooming. Talking more. Laughing more. Smiling more.They walked into the gala arm in arm—Amiriam on Luke's arm, James b

"Does 'The Weight of Blooming' even make sense?" James asked, frowning as he stared at the title page of Amiriam's computer. He sat cross-legged on her bed in a pair of mismatched socks and clinging to a half-eaten apple as though it were a microphone.Amiriam smiled as she looked up from her manuscript, a smile curving the corner of her lips. "It means becoming something beautiful, even when it hurts.".James tilted his head. "Like having teeth?"She grinned. "Sort of, yeah. Except with feelings instead of molars."He nodded gravely. "Sounds painful.""It was," she said quietly, touching the end of the page. "But it was worth it."Luke leant against the doorframe, watching them. His tie was undone, shirt sleeves rolled up, face tired but approving. "Is that the final draft?"Amiriam turned the screen around to present it to him. "It is. All seventy-two thousand words. Edited, formatted, and sent to my publisher an hour ago."Luke moved cautiously toward her, as if not wishing to dist

"Do you think birds ever get tired of singing?" James asked, his legs swinging over the balcony rail, a juice box gripped fiercely in his sticky hand.Amiriam raised her head from her sketchbook, the tip of her pencil smudged with light. "I don't think they even know they're singing. I think it's just how they breathe.".James blinked, drinking it in as if it were the most wonderful thing he'd ever heard in his six years. "So they sing to stay alive?""Something like that," she replied softly.Luke came outside, his feet bare, hair still rumpled from sleep, a steaming cup of coffee in one hand and a paper bag in the other. "Donuts. The cinnamon ones you love."Amiriam took the bag with a small smile. "You spoil us."James leaped for it immediately. "Did you get the sprinkles?"Luke smiled. "Of course. I wouldn't dream of forgetting."It was a Sunday. Serene. No events. No meetings. No foundation events or interviews. Just the kind of day that left you glad you'd made it through the ot