Chapter 4 - A Bridge Between Worlds
Two weeks later, the snow had begun to melt into slush along the gutters of Maple Street, but inside apartment 2B, the warmth was palpable. Grace was back on her feet, the color fully restored to her face, though she was still adhering to James's strict rule of not overexerting herself.
To her surprise, James hadn't vanished after paying the bills. He had visited every other day, always bringing something practical: a box of high-quality groceries, a new set of educational books for Lucy, or a hot meal from a local bistro so Grace wouldn't have to cook.
On a Saturday afternoon, a knock sounded at the door. Lucy ran to open it, her face lighting up. "James!"
James stood in the hallway, wearing a casual sweater instead of his usual tailored suits. He held a large cardboard box in his arms. "Hi, Lucy. I brought a little project. If your mom says it's okay."
Grace walked out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on a dishtowel, a soft smile playing on her lips. "What did you bring, James?"
"A gingerbread house kit," James said, looking almost sheepish. "I realized I’ve never actually built one. My childhood houses were always bought pre-made by the catering staff. I thought maybe I could learn."
For the next three hours, the billionaire CEO sat at a modest kitchen table, his hands covered in white royal icing and sticky gumdrops. Lucy took her job as the 'architectural inspector' very seriously, directing him on exactly where the chocolate shingles should go. Grace watched them from the counter, her heart swelling in a way it hadn't in years.
Since David's death, men had entered her orbit occasionally, but they always seemed intimidated by her workload, or worse, detached from Lucy. But James was different. He didn't treat Lucy like an obligation; he treated her like a treasure.
Later, after Lucy had eaten too many jellybeans and fell asleep on the couch, James and Grace sat at the table with two mugs of tea.
"You're very good with her," Grace said softly, looking over at her daughter.
"She's easy to be good with," James replied, looking at his icing-stained fingers with a smile. "She’s honest. In my world, everyone has a hidden motive. Everyone wants something from me. Lucy just wants to make sure the gingerbread house has a chimney."
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Grace smiled, then looked down at her tea, her expression turning serious. "James... I need to ask you something. This life you have, it's so different from ours. Why are you spending your free time in a tiny apartment on Maple Street?"
James met her gaze, his eyes reflecting the sad sincerity Lucy had noticed on the first night. "Because until I walked into this apartment, my life was just a series of empty rooms. I had wealth, status, and power, but no one to share it with. When I saw Lucy in the snow, and when I met you... I realized I didn't want to go back to the emptiness."
