From Daddy to Uncle

I did not send Sofia's winning photo to Leonardo. I knew he would not care.

I took Sofia straight home and started packing.

While I was booking plane tickets back to my hometown, Valentina sent me a video. It was from a children's talent show. Lily was doing a magic trick on stage. She pulled a stuffed rabbit out of a hat, but the trick went wrong and the rabbit fell apart. Lily did not win any prize. But after the show, Valentina, Leonardo, and Lily were all laughing together, holding ice cream cones. They looked like a happy little family.

At the end of the video, Valentina wrote, "Losing is not so bad when you have family."

Before, I would have fired back immediately. But now, watching Sofia quietly organizing her dolls, I only felt one thing. What was the point?

I closed the chat and booked two tickets to Los Angeles for the day after tomorrow.

The moment I hit confirm, Leonardo walked through the door. Leonardo was carrying a bouquet of white lilies.

Both Sofia and I stared.

Leonardo had always hated flowers. He said they were a waste of money. He had never bought me a single flower in all our years together. On birthdays and anniversaries, I got nothing. Sofia never got a flower from her father either.

So why was Leonardo suddenly holding lilies?

Sofia and I exchanged a look of disbelief.

Leonardo walked in slowly. Seeing the open suitcases, Leonardo's expression shifted. "Lily was upset after the talent show, so I stayed a little longer. On my way back, I passed a flower shop and thought of you two. So I picked these up."

Leonardo glanced at the luggage. "Are you packing for a trip?"

I shook my head, then nodded. "Something like that."

The cooling off period had two days left. I did not want any trouble.

Hearing that, Leonardo seemed to relax. "I know I have been absent. How about we all go out together tomorrow? Just the three of us. A family day. I swear I will not bail this time."

Sofia's hands paused on her doll. Sofia looked at Leonardo, then at me. Her face was caught between hope and fear.

I saw the longing in Sofia's eyes, and my heart softened. "Fine."

It would be the last time anyway.

As soon as I said it, Sofia's eyes lit up. Sofia grabbed her favorite doll and ran to her room, her footsteps thumping happily.

While I continued packing, Leonardo came over and stood beside me. Leonardo hesitated.

"About the uncle thing today…" My heart skipped a beat. I looked up at Leonardo.

Leonardo crouched down and placed the lilies next to my hand. His voice was apologetic, almost tender. "Nina, I know what you are thinking. You think I have been too focused on Valentina and neglecting you and Sofia."

"But I swear, I only feel sorry for Valentina. Valentina is a widow. Her husband died in the life. Valentina has no one else. I just do not want Valentina to suffer too much."

Leonardo took my hand and pressed it against his chest. "Give me a little more time. I will sort everything out with Valentina. I will not let you and Sofia be hurt anymore."

I stared at Leonardo blankly.

I could barely remember the last time Leonardo had looked at me like this. Maybe at our wedding, in that white chapel, when Leonardo had locked his fingers with mine and promised to love me forever. Or maybe the day Sofia was born, when Leonardo had held the tiny baby in his arms and kissed my forehead with trembling lips.

"Nina," Leonardo had said, "I will never let you or Sofia suffer. I swear."

I thought about all of that for a long time. Then I decided to tell Leonardo the truth about the divorce.

"Leonardo, actually."

"Oh, by the way," Leonardo interrupted. "That limited edition doll you bought for Sofia, is it in the study cabinet? Valentina said Lily is really into dolls lately. I will just borrow it for a few days."

Leonardo went straight to the study, found the doll, grabbed his keys, and hurried out the door.

Bang. The front door closed behind Leonardo. He did not even look back.

I stood there in silence, staring at the door.

Then I finished the sentence I had started.

"Actually, Leonardo, Sofia and I have already left you."

Two more days until we were gone.