A Package Deal

It's a New Dawn, A New Day (Chapter 6)

"Mommy, you awake?" Addilyn's voice was soft but eager.

Gabby rubbed her eyes, half-dazed from an early start. Blinking against the morning light, she looked over to find a bright-eyed little girl beside her, full of energy.

"Morning, sweetie. What time is it?" she mumbled, caught between sleep and reality.

"It's morning!"

Gabby rubbed her eyes and squinted at the clock—8:45 a.m. That can't be right. She reached for her phone, double-checking the time. Sure enough, 8:45. Letting out a sigh, she resigned herself to getting up.

"Hmm! So, it is." Gabby said with a stretch. "Well, I suppose we should get up then since we have a busy day ahead."

Addilyn bounced on her toes, her eyes sparkling.

"Is today the carousel and the zoo?"

"That's the plan," Gabby said, smiling at her daughter's excitement. "But we might need a nap later, especially if we want to go swimming or catch a movie."

Addilyn's lip stuck out in mock defiance, hands on her hips.

"I won't need a nap!"

"You just might," Gabby said with assurity.

"I won't!" Addilyn insisted, crossing her arms with a huff.

"We'll see."

Getting ready was a blur. Addilyn's energy was infectious as Gabby hurried to dress. Checking her phone, there were messages from her parents, work, and a few from friends. And then there were several from an unnamed caller.

"Gramma and Grampa K want to know how the concert was," she said to Addilyn, who was already bouncing around, too excited to listen.

"Tell them it was awesome!" Addilyn shouted before frowning slightly. "Momma, how come we didn't stay so I could say goodbye to Ignazio?"

Gabby paused, her heart giving an unexpected flutter. "Sweetie, you fell asleep," she explained, her fingers softly brushing through Addilyn's hair.

"Ach achoo!"

Gabby glanced at the phone in her hand. Who keeps texting me from this unknown number? Clicking on it, her mouth dropped.

Hello, Gabby Kalverson. I promised to send these photos; I'm a man of my word. I hope you like them. Ignazio.

Gabby's heart skipped a beat. Ignazio? Her fingers shook slightly as she swiped through the images; Addilyn asleep in his arms, and another with the three of them, his arm around her, his smile warm and authentic.

"Addie, come here. You don't remember seeing Ignazio after the concert, but look." Lowering her phone, she showed her daughter the photo.

Addilyn's face lit up instantly.

"Oh! That's Ignazio and me!" she said, jumping up and down and giggling.

Gabby's heart swelled as she smiled at the photo. Last night had felt like a dream, but this? This was proof that it wasn't.

"Ooh, wait, there's a video," Gabby said, beaming from ear to ear. Lifting her daughter onto her lap, the two of them bit the same corner of their mouths.

If you're wondering who took this video, Piero did.

"Look, Momma," Addie exclaimed, seeing Ignazio holding her as he swayed. "We're dancing!"

Gabby smiled at the sight of the two of them caught in a moment of tenderness. She felt a fluttering sensation, something deep and warm that had little to do with the pictures. It had to be the genuine kindness in Ignazio's eyes—the way he cared for Addilyn, and made her feel like she was part of something special, even if only in a photograph. Pulling her daughter close and hugging her tight, she declared, "Pretty awesome, huh?"