Page 5

Mia Clark paces the sidewalk, walking back and forth with her usual nervousness. While waiting, she runs through her mental checklist, the same one as always. Rent paid. Savings transferred to the investment account, and the courthouse signature, completed. Mia is twenty-five, but Leah Walker always tells her she seems much older, constantly worried about everything, trying not to let anything slip through the cracks and keeping her life quite orderly. It has to be that way; Mia hasn't had it easy, and if she wants to keep Aaron by her side, she must maintain control over everything.

The door opens and Mia's heart speeds up, as usual. Through it comes a fourteen-year-old boy, with the same dark hair color as hers and a captivating smile that Mia knows will break many hearts. An older woman raises her hand and waves to the young woman, who returns it warmly, though her gaze quickly returns to the young man. "Hello," she greets the boy and they melt into an endless embrace. Mia feels at home when she has Aaron in her arms. Nothing makes her happier. "I'm glad to see you." "I missed you, Mia," answers Aaron, who remains pressed against his sister's body. "Me too," replies the young woman, who can barely contain her tears. This happens every time they're together, two weekends a month when Mia is the most smiling woman in the universe. "Are we going to the club?" asks Aaron when they separate and start walking. He carries a backpack with a couple changes of clothes to spend two days with his sister. "Yes, we'll eat there, then we have the hockey game."

Aaron stops dead in his tracks and turns his head to focus on his sister. A smile begins to appear on his face until it covers his entire face. Like Mia, he loves all sports, but his favorites are tennis and hockey. They've been trying to attend one of those ice games for a long time without luck. Sometimes tickets sell out the same day they go on sale, or the remaining ones are those typical VIP tickets that cost an arm and a leg, and one thing Mia knows is how to manage her money, so she doesn't part with it easily. This time, she woke up early and went directly to buy the tickets. She was the first to arrive and secured two tickets to enjoy a game of the Stingrays, Aaron's favorite team. "Are you serious?" asks Aaron excitedly. "Dead serious," Mia replies.

The young boy jumps on her and shouts as if he'd won the lottery. His sister means everything to him, always attentive, loving, and thoughtful with these gestures he enjoys so much. Aaron wishes he could live with her, and every night, with his foster mother, when they pray, he silently asks for his wish to come true.

The siblings walk through the less touristy streets of Charleston, away from the colonial mansions. The area stretches with its mix of modest houses and family businesses that have withstood the test of time. Mia loses herself in her thoughts; she likes the place, the air smells like a combination of sea, freshly brewed coffee, and bread. The houses differ from those in the other part of the city where she lives; here they're a bit dilapidated, some with peeling paint and shutters warped by persistent humidity. Everything is very clean, the neighborhood people are civilized, and she likes that: good manners before money. "What about your car?" asks Aaron when, two blocks later, they get into the vehicle. Mia never manages to park any closer. "It's in the shop, due for maintenance, and they were supposed to deliver it yesterday," she answers and adjusts her seatbelt. She starts the engine and feels the small rumble. She loves that car. "Leah has good taste," points out the boy. The car belongs to the tennis player and, although it's not the typical luxury vehicle that millionaires like her drive, it's high-end, dark, and very comfortable.

Mia drives cautiously—as always—while heading to Walker Elite Sport Club. She's been working there for four years, practically since her life changed. Leah gave her an opportunity that she promised not to waste, and she can't help but ruminate on the question that always appears suddenly in her mind: what would have become of her if she hadn't run into Leah Walker? Though "run into" is a euphemism; her story with the club owner is more complex. "Can we play today?" asks Aaron when Mia enters the club.

His sister shakes her head and maneuvers to park. "There won't be time, but before you go back home, I promise we'll play a match."

Home, thinks Mia. It should be where she lives and not the foster home where her brother sleeps every day. At least Dalia and Peter are good parents, they love Aaron, care for him, and worry about him, making her feel more at ease. A shiver runs through her as she remembers the previous foster parents. Absolute losers.

While they walk through the club to the bar where they're meeting, Aaron gazes at the different courts. He breathes deeply; he loves the smell of gravel when it impacts with sports shoes. The sound of balls hitting rackets and the shouts of those executing a good backhand. He notices Leah is on one of the courts, and Aaron takes Mia's hand to lead her there. Seeing Leah Walker in action is a fantasy. Despite no longer being active, the tennis player still trains daily and, whenever possible, plays friendly matches with any club member who's up for it. Aaron smiles when Leah bounces the ball against the ground; it's her serve. She tosses the ball and hits it directly to the corner of the service box. Her opponent barely reacts but manages to return the ball with a deep return, forcing her to back up. Leah returns it forcefully, and her opponent changes the rhythm; with a slice backhand, she leaves the ball almost touching the net. Leah sprints with all her might and arrives just in time to respond with a subtle touch, leaving the ball even shorter. "Damn," shouts the man Leah is playing with when he's unable to reach the ball.

Leah smiles, wipes her sweat, and approaches him. "You've improved that move, Josh," she tells him and shakes his hand. "Not enough," the man shakes his head and smiles. "Someday I'll beat you."

The tennis player lets out a laugh. Josh is one of the first members who joined her club when Leah opened its doors. He could barely hold a racket, but at that moment he promised her that one day he would defeat her. He never has, and always, after losing, he repeats the same phrase. "If you keep improving like this, I assure you you'll win," she answers, and Leah's eyes light up when they meet Aaron's curious eyes outside the court. "My favorite boy," she says when she approaches him.

They greet each other affectionately; if Mia is like a sister to Leah, so is Aaron. "That was awesome, Leah," says Aaron, referring to her last play on the court.

Leah smiles while she puts an arm around Aaron's shoulders; the boy always seems impressed by every play. "You're awesome too."

The boy laughs, and Mia watches him, enchanted. Her brother's happiness is her own. "Aaron," says Anne, and Natalie stands up with her wife. "How handsome you look."

Both women also hug him. Without knowing it, he's a very fortunate boy. "Well, did you bring me what I asked for?" asks Leah, sitting at the table after stopping by the locker room to change.

Aaron smiles and nods. Mia narrows her eyes.

The boy puts his backpack on his knees, opens the dark zipper, and takes out a medium-sized white envelope. He extends his arm and hands it to Leah. The club owner removes the document and, with a concentrated look, reviews it from top to bottom until she tilts her head with a proud smile. She returns the paper to Aaron and stands up to go to the bar. Everyone follows her with their eyes, and when Leah turns around, the boy's eyes open wide. "Almost all A's," says Leah, pointing with her finger at the envelope containing Aaron's grades. "You've fulfilled your part, and I'll fulfill mine."

Leah holds a tennis racket that she gives to the boy, who looks at it, impressed. It's professional-grade, made of graphite and carbon, with a grip that, by its size, will fit Aaron's hand perfectly, with anti-vibration technology that makes it a jewel. "You spoil him too much," says Mia with a smile as she watches her brother touch his new gift. "He deserves it," Leah concludes.

The five of them relax while enjoying the evening. Anne and Natalie show interest in Aaron's stories while Leah asks him several casual questions. They eat, laugh, and spend hours inside the club bar like any other family, a different one, but a family nonetheless.

Mia doesn't say much; she tends to be quieter in these gatherings because she limits herself to listening to what Aaron says. She wants to be a good sister, to be there for him, for when he needs her. Mia's childhood wasn't bad; she can actually categorize it as good. The problem was that her parents were criminals, involved in all kinds of illegal activities: home burglaries, street thefts, scams, and even drug dealing. Mia wasn't fully aware; she was a happy child who went to school and had everything her parents could offer her. She enjoyed family vacations, visited many beautiful places, and received much love. Aaron arrived suddenly, they weren't expecting him, but her mother was very excited. Mia loved him from the moment they met, and her life started to get better until one day they kicked down the door of their house. The police turned everything upside down, took her parents away in handcuffs, and separated her from Aaron. She kicked, bit, and ran very fast when she managed to escape from the officers who explained they would go to different foster homes due to the age difference between them. Mia was sixteen; it wasn't difficult to find her two days later, but that's when her misfortunes began: Mia attacked the police officer who recognized her, and a bad fall caused the officer considerable harm. That was enough for the judge, along with being the daughter of criminals, to send her straight to a juvenile detention center. Her life hasn't been easy, of course not, and yet she doesn't give up. She works harder than anyone, especially because her goal is to gain custody of Aaron, which they've been denying her for years, forcing her brother to live in foster homes. Mia Clark achieves what she sets out to do, even if it resists her, and she's going to ensure Aaron grows up by her side.