Page 34

Emma sits on Mia's sofa, silent, while stroking the hair of the cadet whose head rests on her lap. She's been there all day. Since going this morning to deliver the bad news before Mia left for the club, Emma hasn't been able to leave her alone with so much sadness. She took care of ordering food for both of them, plenty and varied in hopes that Mia might want to eat something, but she's barely touched a bite. Now, at least, she's managed to calm her down and, although they sit in silence, neither feels uncomfortable.

Her phone vibrates. Emma unlocks the screen and smiles with relief as she reads her cousin Emily's message.

"Leah just called me and says she has nothing else to think about, she wants to go ahead with plan B. Come with Mia to the club restaurant. We're waiting there to discuss it with her."

Finally some good news to give Mia, Emma thinks.

"Get up, we need to go to the club," she says, giving her a tap on the arm.

"Pass," Mia says, moving her head so Emma can get up.

"This isn't a request, Mia. Emily wants to talk to you about your brother's case. There's something else we can do, but if you don't move your butt, you'll never know. Seriously, it's important," she adds in an affectionate tone.

Mia jumps up.

"What thing?" she asks, grabbing Emma's hand to stop her from walking toward the door.

She smiles and restrains her urge to kiss her.

"I'd love to tell you, really, but I don't think it's my place to do so."

"Damn it, Emma," Mia huffs, making the lawyer smile.

Forty minutes later, they walk through the doors of the club restaurant, and Mia sighs deeply when she sees that Leah, her mothers, and Emily are sitting at Leah's favorite table. The first thing the tennis player does is stand up and hug her to say she's sorry about what happened. Then Mia receives the same show of affection from Anne and Natalie and, finally, from Emily.

"Sit down," Emily says, settled next to Leah.

They've left the two chairs across from them empty for Mia and Emma, with the tennis player's mothers heading each corner of the table.

"What's going on?" Mia asks nervously.

Emily looks at Leah in case she wants to be the one to speak.

"You tell her," Leah requests. "You'll express it better than me, and it was your idea."

"Okay," Emily agrees, fixing her gaze on Mia. "I know the judge's rejection has been a hard blow, Mia, but I think there's something we can do so Aaron can be with you."

"What?" she asks, taking Emma's hand under the table without even being aware of it.

"Leah could apply for custody."

Mia blinks, mouth agape, as she looks at Leah for a moment before focusing back on Emily.

"Can she do that?"

"Yes, any adult who meets the requirements can do it. It will always depend on an evaluation, just like what happened with you, but in Leah's case, I think there's a very high probability they'll grant her custody. She has no record," Emily makes a sad face at that comment and continues, "She has enough financial stability to give Aaron a very promising future, she has a structured family that supports her," she adds, pointing to her mothers, "and she's a public sports figure with an impeccable reputation. No judge in their right mind would deny a possibility like this to any child, but as I say, there's always a chance they'll refuse, although in my opinion, it's very small."

"And you would do this?" Mia's eyes are already flooded when she looks at Leah because, deep down, she already knows the answer.

"Of course," Leah responds firmly.

Mia swallows, tries to undo the knot in her throat while stretching her hand across the table to take the tennis player's.

"And what does all this mean for Leah?" she asks Emily, but Leah is the one who answers.

"It means I'll be Aaron's legal guardian, but I trust you and him. You just have to say yes, Mia. Give your approval to Emily and Emma so they can start the paperwork, and maybe in a couple of months, you and Aaron will be moving into my house to live under the same roof once and for all. You're a few months away from meeting the judge's last requirement, then you can start the custody petition again, but meanwhile, you don't have to stay separated."

"Are you both okay with this?" Mia asks, shifting her gaze between Natalie and Anne as tears slide down her face.

"Of course, what kind of question is that?" Natalie huffs, making an annoyed motion with her hand.

Mia smiles through her tears, and her gaze shifts to Emma for a fraction of a second, finding her smile.

"Okay, yes," she says and stands up at the same time Leah does so they can melt into another hug.

"Good," Emily says, running her fingers under her eyes to collect the moisture that emotion has brought to them. "In that case, we'll get started tomorrow. Emma will focus exclusively on preparing all the documentation they ask for. If they consider Leah suitable, we'll try to get Aaron out of the Morris home as soon as possible. In our favor, this case isn't going through the normal channels, so with a little luck, it'll be quick."

"I don't know how to thank you, Leah," Mia says, still hugging the tennis player.

"Aaron and you are like family. I know you'd do the same."

Mia nods and hugs her tighter before letting go. When they separate, she feels the weight of the day fall on her like a slab. Suddenly, she's exhausted and only wants to get home and throw herself on the couch, preferably with Emma, who seems to read her mind and stands up to position herself next to her.

"Want me to take you home?" Emma whispers as Leah sits back down next to Emily.

"Please," says Mia, nervous about her closeness.

"If you don't need anything else," Emma says, addressing all the women, "I'm going to take Mia to her apartment. It's been an intense day for her."

"Of course," Leah responds, smiling as she watches them.

Mia seems like a disoriented doll, standing by the table, dazed. Until Emma, without thinking much about it, takes her hand, interlacing their fingers, and they start walking toward the exit while the lawyer whispers something in Mia's ear.

"What don't I know?" Natalie asks, fixing her gaze on her daughter and the lawyer.

Anne bursts out laughing, although she too watches them, waiting for an explanation.

"You mean Mia and Emma?" Leah asks, amused.

"Them and you two. Nobody's leaving this table until you tell your mother and me everything I want to know," she says, rubbing her hands together at the look, both complicit and terrified, that Emily and Leah exchange.