Page 61 of The Prize

His mum beamed at the camera and said,He’s going to open it and then blow out the candles.

My face flushed with the thought that this could be like us one day, filming our child’s birthday party, and I let out a sigh of wonder at their shared happiness.

His parents looked cute together.

I sensed Tobias’s disquiet and threw him a concerned glance. If I found this footage moving, then he must be spinning.

“You were adorable,” I whispered. “See how your mom looks at you. See how loved you are.”

“Were.”

I ignored his correction. “They’re watching over you. Keeping you safe.”

Tobias gave me a look of discomfort and I recognized the pain he carried. My gaze went back to the screen. This felt like the first time I’d gotten to share a sacred piece of Wilder’s past.

And then I realized—

There are nine candles.

“Tobias, this was your ninth birthday?” I swallowed hard as my gaze snapped back to see the way he stared at the screen. “Oh, Tobias.”

“Three months later they were gone.” He flicked the remote and the screen went blank. He rose to his feet. “Do you want me to put a movie on for you?”

“I’m so sorry.”

“I knew what was on the tape.”

“Thank you for sharing it with me.”

“Not one of my better decisions.” He shook his head as though trying to shake off the pain.

I watched him stroll off with his head bowed. “What about your sandwich?”

“I’ll have it later. Thank you for making it.”

I stared at the place where he’d sat seconds ago and then turned my gaze back to the TV and my heart ached for him. This had reminded him of what he’d lost. A childhood decimated—after that crash there’d been no more Christmas mornings running into his parents’ bedroom to wake them up. No more birthdays with them to celebrate, no chance of them being at his graduation or sharing his remarkable achievements and no more love that only a mother can bring. I knew what this pain meant and it changed everything, life would always be seen through a lens of survival, with no belief in fairy tales to help you to find peace.

I ran after him across the foyer and through the drawing room, managing to catch the door to his workshop before it locked. My hands gripped the banister when I saw him standing still in the center seemingly shaken.

I closed the gap between us and leaned against his back, wrapping my arms around his waist, and gave a reassuring squeeze as I breathed in his familiar cologne.

His body stiffened against mine. “I’m fine.”

“What do you need?” And then I sawher—

My arms slipped from his waist as I stepped back.

She rested upon an easel and looked back at me with that mesmerizing smile—

No, she wasn’t real. I knew this but as I made my way toward her I could see her remarkable resemblance to the original portrait and she was dazzling. Her smile, those infamous lips curling subtly yet disappearing when your eyes met hers, and when you looked down at her mouth again that smile was gone from the enigma that wasMona Lisa.

I gazed upon this seeming living person and struggled with my conscience as I soaked in her beauty while confusion swept over me.

Tobias walked toward her. “Forgive me father for I have sinned.”

His words were raw with truth.

“You’ve yet to varnish her?” My voice wavered.