8. The Garden Grows
The next morning, the hotel buzzed with the energy that follows scandal. Victor was gone, his charity exposed as a sham. Ava was offered a new position: director of the hotel’s children’s wellness initiative, with a mandate to create a program for guests with special needs.
Ethan sat in the garden, watching Lily and Ava. His daughter was talking, actually talking, in short sentences punctuated by long pauses, but talking nonetheless. She fed the fish. “Three times. They remember,” she said.
Ava replied, “Fish have better memories than people think. Like you. I remembered your song.”
Ethan’s phone buzzed. Marcus, his CFO: “You need to see the news. Victor’s finished. Federal investigation, fraud, embezzlement. His board called an emergency meeting at 5am. He’s out.”
Ethan closed his laptop. “Marcus, set up a foundation. Trauma-informed education for children with communication disorders. Start with five million. And see if Ava Thompson will consult.”
