Chapter 6 - Spring in Westchester
Three months later, the iron gates of the Romano estate stood wide open, welcoming the warm April breeze that swept up from the Hudson River.
The sprawling Westchester property had undergone a profound transformation. The dormant rose gardens were now bursting with vibrant reds, pinks, and yellows, carefully tended by Lily, who had officially been promoted to head estate botanist. The stone fountains bubbled merrily, catching the afternoon sunlight in a spray of sparkling mist.
Inside the mansion, the heavy velvet drapes that had kept the rooms in perpetual gloom for three years were pulled back, allowing golden shafts of light to flood the hallways, the study, and the grand living areas.
In the East Gallery, Alessandro sat behind his mahogany desk, reviewing a stack of international logistics contracts. But his attention kept wandering toward the open French doors leading out to the terrace.
Outside, the sound of laughter echoed across the flagstones.
Ethan was no longer confined to his wheelchair. Though he still used a pair of lightweight silver forearm crutches for longer walks, he was currently chasing a golden retriever puppy across the freshly mowed lawn, his legs moving with a steady, determined rhythm that defied every gloomy prediction the specialists had given years ago.
Lily sat on a wooden bench nearby, watching him with a gentle smile as she tied up a bundle of fresh rosemary.
Walter Pike walked into Alessandro’s study, placing a cup of freshly brewed coffee on the corner of the desk. He looked out the window at the boy running across the lawn, a rare smile touching the corners of his mouth.
"He's getting stronger every week, Mr. Romano," Walter said quietly. "Doctor Vance called this morning from Boston. He wants to review Ethan's progress reports. Says it's bordering on the miraculous."
Alessandro took a sip of his coffee, his eyes softening as he watched his son bend down to pick up a tennis ball and toss it across the grass.
"It's not a miracle, Walter," Alessandro replied, a warm, genuine smile touching his lips. "It's just good gardening."
Walter chuckled softly. "And Miss Brooks? She mentioned something about planting winter jasmine along the north wall before autumn arrives."
"Tell her to order whatever she needs," Alessandro said without hesitation. "Put it on my personal account."
"Yes, sir."
Later that afternoon, after the estate had quieted down and the sun began to dip below the tree line, Alessandro walked out into the garden. The air was thick with the sweet scent of blooming lilacs and damp earth.
Lily was packing up her tools near the greenhouse, cleaning her trowel with a piece of burlap cloth. She looked up as she heard his footsteps on the gravel path.
"You're working late, Miss Brooks," Alessandro said, stopping a few feet away.
"Spring waits for no one, Mr. Romano," Lily replied smoothly, standing up and dusting off her knees. "If you don't prep the soil now, the roots won't survive the summer heat."
Alessandro nodded slowly, his hands resting in his pockets. He looked around the flourishing estate—at the vibrant flowers, the green lawns, and the empty wheelchair sitting neatly folded against the greenhouse wall, permanently retired.
"I found another letter in the attic last night," Alessandro said quietly.
Lily paused, her eyes meeting his. "Oh?"
"It wasn't for me," Alessandro continued, a soft note of amusement in his deep voice. "It was tucked inside an old seed catalog of Elena's. It was addressed to whoever might be taking care of this garden when she was gone."
Lily raised an eyebrow, her expression curious. "What did it say?"
"To whoever keeps this ground: Thank you for watering the roots when I no longer could. If my husband is being stubborn, remind him that even the hardest stone can be weathered down by a steady stream of water and a little bit of sunlight."
Alessandro took a step closer, the cold, intimidating billionaire of New York entirely gone, replaced by a man who had finally learned how to thaw.
"She knew you'd come, didn't she?" Alessandro asked softly.
Lily smiled, a warm, radiant expression that seemed to chase away the last lingering shadows of winter.
"Elena always had an eye for what would grow," Lily said. "She just needed someone stubborn enough to plant it."
May you like
Alessandro reached out and gently touched the small silver leaf hanging from the chain around her neck. For the first time in his life, he didn't feel the need to build a wall, to control the outcome, or to fear the future.
"Well," Alessandro said, his voice laced with quiet warmth. "The ground is yours, Lily. Let's see what else we can grow."
