Chapter 9 - The First Four Steps
It happened on a bright Saturday afternoon, three weeks after Emma's arrival.
Gabriel was seated at his desk, watching the live multi-split monitor feed of the grand parlor. He didn't need to be watching through a lens anymore—he could have walked down the hall—but old habits died hard, and his eyes were drawn to the screen by instinct.
In the center of the vast, sunlit parlor, Lily stood inside her metal training walker. Her knuckles were white, her jaw set with intense concentration. Sophia stood a few feet away, clapping her hands and shouting encouragement.
"Come on, Lily! You can do it!" Sophia cheered, her face glowing with pure joy.
Across the room, kneeling on the thick Persian rug, was Emma.
She wasn't holding a toy, nor was she holding exercise bands or medical charts. She simply knelt with her arms wide open, her full figure balanced firmly on the carpet, offering an unconditional invitation.
"I'm right here," Emma called out, her voice warm, steady, and filled with absolute belief. "Take your time. The floor won't let you fall."
Gabriel watched the monitor, his breath catching in his throat. He saw Lily’s right leg—the leg the specialists said had severe developmental uncertainty—tremble slightly. Then, instead of retreating into silence as she always did, Lily released her grip on the right side of the metal frame.
One.
She shifted her weight forward.
Two.
Her small foot dragged slightly, then planted firmly against the nonsidew mat Emma had installed weeks earlier.
Three.
Sophia squealed with delight, jumping up and down.
Four.
May you like
Lily luridly crossed the distance, her small arms reaching out past the metal bars until she tumbled directly into Emma’s wide, welcoming embrace.
Gabriel didn't wait for another second. He stood up so fast his leather chair crashed backward against the study wall.
