Chapter 20 - Under the Permanent SkyThe sun dipped below the horizon on New Year’s Eve, painting the winter sky in magnificent strokes of violet, deep indigo, and blazing gold.
We were standing together on the wide balcony of the east wing. A heavy brass telescope stood mounted on its tripod beside us, pointed directly toward the glittering constellations overhead.
Alejandro stood slightly behind Mama, his arms wrapped securely around her waist, while I leaned comfortably against his knee, holding Barnaby close.
“Look, Grandpa—look, Mr. Moretti!” I pointed excitedly toward the bright northern horizon. “Polaris is shining brighter than all the other stars tonight!”
Alejandro looked down at me, his dark eyes reflecting the starlight with a profound, quiet peace.
“Do you know why the North Star shines so brightly, Emma?” he asked softly, his rich baritone voice carrying easily in the crisp night air.
“Why?” I asked, tilting my head.
“Because it never moves,” Alejandro murmured, resting his hand gently on my head before reaching out to clasp Mama’s hand. “No matter how hard the wind blows, no matter how dark the night gets, it stays right where it belongs to help you find your way home.”
I smiled up at him, feeling a deep, abiding warmth settle into my chest.
The pristine, artificial perfection of Vanessa’s museum and the cold, terrifying walls of the basement were gone forever, replaced by a foundation built not on fear, silence, or secrets, but on truth, courage, and unconditional love.
We had stopped trying to build a fortress.
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We had built a home.
And out here under the vast, unchanging Texas sky, our foundations were finally solid enough to weather any storm for the rest of eternity.
