Three days passed.
Ryan returned to work as usual. Lily sat behind the desk with her crayons while he changed light bulbs and checked fire extinguishers. Routine. Predictable.
But then Leroy radioed him.
“Hey, Ryan. You’ve got a visitor in the lobby. Says she’s here for you.”
“For me?”
Ryan wiped his hands and headed downstairs.
There, standing in the polished marble lobby in a tailored white blazer, was Emily. Not panicked this time. Calm. Composed. And smiling.
“Hi,” she said.
“Ms. Emily. Didn’t expect to see you again.”
“I wanted to say thank you. Properly.”
“You did already.”
“No, Ryan. Not really.”
She turned and waved at someone outside. A man in a suit hurried in with two large shopping bags and a box.
“What’s all this?”
“For Lily,” Emily said. “Books, clothes, a backpack with actual school supplies, and tickets to the city zoo. I figured you two could use a day off.”
Ryan’s mouth opened, but nothing came out.
“And this—” she handed him an envelope, “—is for you.”
He hesitated. “Ms. Emily, I didn’t help you for anything in return.”
“I know,” she said. “That’s why you deserve it.”
