After packing, we both said goodbye to Leo. There were a few tears, but my boy was brave and strong.
I held him tightly, one last time.
Gideon was waiting for us outside, helping the servants load some of our heavier suitcases into the car that would take us to the border. When he saw us, he approached us.
Nova immediately went in for a hug. Gideon returned it.
After, he stood and looked at me. “I wanted to thank you, for everything you’ve done.”
“I didn’t do all that much,” I said, trying to downplay it, when we both knew that wasn’t true.
I held out my hand for Gideon to shake.
“It was nice working with you,” I said.
He took my hand in his. His skin was rough, but his hand was large and steady. I had a flash of our dancing together, where his arms were around me.
At once, I put
