𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐁𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐔𝐬

The cabin door swung open, and the first thing Alessia noticed wasn't the skyline stretching beyond the aircraft - it was the wall of humid air that rushed inside.

It wrapped around her instantly, warm and impossibly heavy, carrying the faint scent of salt, jet fuel, and sun-soaked concrete. Nothing like Australia. Different somehow. Louder. Hotter. Alive.

A small smile tugged at the corner of her lips despite herself.

"So this is Miami."

Adjusting the strap of her leather carry-on over one shoulder, Alessia stepped onto the narrow staircase leading down from the private jet. Dressed comfortably for the long flight, she wore fitted black high-waisted Alo Yoga track pants paired with a crisp white crop top that contrasted against her lightly tanned skin. The matching black jacket had seemed like a sensible idea somewhere over the Pacific, but within seconds of stepping into the Florida humidity, she tugged the zip down before tying it loosely around her waist.

"So much for wearing a jacket," she muttered under her breath, a quiet laugh escaping her as she shook her head.

"I was wondering how long that would last."

The familiar voice immediately drew her attention. Alessia glanced over her shoulder to find Amelia making her way down the aircraft steps, an amused smile spreading across her face as she balanced Katherine's tablet beneath one arm with the effortless ease of someone who had done this countless times before.

"Five seconds," Alessia admitted, shielding her eyes from the afternoon sun as she reached the bottom of the stairs. "I think that's a new record."

"Oh, definitely," Amelia teased, the corners of her eyes crinkling as she smiled. "Your mum said you'd last at least until the car."

Alessia let out a soft scoff, rolling her eyes in mock offence before laughing quietly.

"So she was taking bets now?"

“Only with herself." Amelia shrugged innocently. "Apparently she knows you better than you know yourself."

"Questionable."

Their conversation flowed with an effortless familiarity that only came from years of knowing one another. Amelia had been Katherine's assistant for over a decade, but somewhere along the way the job title had stopped meaning anything to Alessia. She'd been there for birthdays, school performances, family holidays and the nights Katherine had worked late, making sure Alessia never felt alone. If Katherine had been the mum who built her future, Amelia had quietly become the person who helped hold it together.

The steady hum of the aircraft engines continued behind them as two members of the ground crew carefully unloaded suitcase after suitcase from the luggage compartment. One by one, expensive black cases were placed neatly onto the tarmac until the collection was almost comical.

Watching the pile grow larger by the second, Alessia pinched the bridge of her nose before letting out an exaggerated sigh.

"I definitely overpacked."

Amelia followed her gaze before looking back at her with a smile that was equal parts amused and affectionate.

"You say that every single trip," she replied, folding her arms loosely across her chest. "And somehow every single time, every suitcase ends up being necessary."

A small smile found its way onto Alessia's face as she looked back towards the mountain of luggage.

Maybe she had overpacked.

Or maybe moving your entire life across the world deserved a little extra luggage.

"Is Mum here?"

The question left Alessia's lips almost instinctively as she glanced around the private terminal, her eyes scanning beyond the line of waiting black SUVs, suited chauffeurs and airport staff. Although she already had a feeling she knew the answer, a small part of her still hoped to catch sight of the familiar blonde hair she hadn't seen in over a year.

Katherine Hartley was, without question, one of the busiest women Alessia had ever known. Running an international fashion empire meant her days blurred into conference calls across different time zones, last-minute meetings, overseas flights and decisions that couldn't simply be postponed until tomorrow. It was a life that never really stopped moving.

Yet despite all of that...

She had always made Alessia feel like she came first.

Growing up, there had been countless moments when work had threatened to pull Katherine somewhere else. Fashion weeks, investor meetings and product launches had all demanded her attention, but somehow she'd always found a way to be there. Maybe not for every single second, and certainly not without a phone glued to her hand half the time, but she'd never missed the moments that truly mattered. Birthdays. School awards. Football finals. The nights Alessia couldn't sleep. Even after moving to Miami, not a day had passed without a phone call or a video chat, no matter what time it was where Katherine happened to be.

Amelia's smile softened the moment she looked at her, the warmth in her expression laced with an apology she hadn't even voiced yet.

"She was supposed to be, Bub." There was a gentleness to Amelia's voice that made Alessia's shoulders relax despite the disappointment quietly settling in her chest. Amelia had never been very good at hiding how she felt, especially when it came to Katherine or Alessia.

"But..." Alessia sighed quietly, the corner of her mouth lifting into a knowing smile as she slipped her sunglasses onto the top of her head. "Something came up."

It wasn't really a question.

Amelia nodded, adjusting the strap of her handbag before stepping closer so they could begin walking towards the waiting luggage. "One of the suppliers flew in unexpectedly this morning, and then one of the design teams hit a problem with the new collection." She let out a small breath, shaking her head with an amused smile. "Trust me, your mum tried everything to get out of there. I think I spent half the morning convincing her that the meeting wouldn't end any quicker just because she kept checking the time."

A quiet laugh escaped Alessia before she could stop it. "Sounds about right."

"It really does," Amelia agreed warmly. "She must've apologised to me at least six times on the drive here. I don't think she's stopped worrying since you landed."

For just a moment, Alessia looked away, her gaze settling on the endless stretch of private aircraft lined up across the tarmac. A flicker of disappointment crossed her face, subtle enough that most people would've missed it entirely.

Amelia didn't. She reached across without saying a word, giving Alessia's forearm a gentle squeeze before letting her hand fall away again.

"She'll be waiting at home, Bub," she said softly, her eyes meeting Alessia's with quiet reassurance. "You know your mum. If she could've been here, nothing would've stopped her."

Alessia nodded slowly. "I know." And she did.

There was a world of difference between someone being busy... and someone simply choosing not to be there.

Her mother had always been busy.

Her father had simply been absent.

"So..." Amelia began, waiting until the last of the suitcases had been loaded onto the luggage trolley before turning her attention back to Alessia. One perfectly groomed eyebrow lifted in amusement, and there was a familiar glint in her eyes that immediately told Alessia she was about to ask something she already knew the answer to. "What happened with you and... what's her face?"

A quiet scoff escaped Alessia as she looked over at the woman beside her, shaking her head with an almost disbelieving smile. Of all the questions Amelia could have asked after not seeing her for over a year, somehow she'd managed to land on that one within five minutes of her feet touching American soil.

"You know her name," Alessia replied, the corners of her lips twitching upwards despite herself.

Amelia's expression remained one of complete innocence, though the smile threatening to betray her amusement was impossible to miss.

"Do I?" she asked, tilting her head ever so slightly. "I've met a lot of people over the years, Bub."

The blonde couldn't help but laugh, the sound quieter than it used to be but genuine nonetheless. She turned her head just enough to meet Amelia's eyes, immediately recognising the playful expression she'd grown up seeing whenever Amelia knew she was winding her up on purpose.

"Ames," she sighed dramatically, rolling her eyes towards the bright blue Miami sky. "You don't get to pretend you've forgotten her name just because you never liked her."

"I never said I didn't like her."

"You didn't have to."

The two shared a knowing look before Amelia finally let out a laugh of her own, surrendering with a small raise of both hands.

"Fine," she admitted. "Maybe I wasn't her biggest fan."

"You think?"

"I was trying to be supportive."

"You told Mum she looked like she'd start an argument with a mirror."

Amelia's lips parted in mock horror. "I absolutely did not."

"You absolutely did."

"...I might've."

Another laugh escaped Alessia, warmer this time, and Amelia felt an unexpected wave of relief settle over her. For months she'd listened to Alessia over phone calls that had felt increasingly empty, hearing the smile in her voice disappear little by little until every conversation ended with the same familiar phrase - I'm okay. Seeing that laughter return, even if only for a few seconds, made the knot of worry she'd been carrying begin to loosen.

"So?" Amelia asked more gently this time, the teasing slowly fading from her voice as they continued across the tarmac. "What actually happened?"

Alessia was quiet for a moment. Her gaze drifted away from Amelia, settling instead on the endless line of private aircraft parked beneath the afternoon sun. She slipped both hands into the pockets of her tracksuit bottoms, absent-mindedly rubbing her thumb against the fabric as though searching for the right words.

"I don't know," she admitted eventually, her voice quieter than before. "I think..." She paused, exhaling slowly before looking down at the ground beneath her feet. "I just don't think I'm emotionally ready for a relationship."

The confession hung between them for a moment, carried away almost immediately by the warm breeze rolling across the runway.

"I thought I was," Alessia continued after a few seconds, a faint smile touching her lips although it never quite reached her eyes. "She wanted someone who'd tell her everything. Someone who'd let her in completely." She shrugged one shoulder, the movement small enough that Amelia almost missed it. "Every time things started getting serious, I just... shut down."

Amelia didn't rush to answer. She'd learned a long time ago that Alessia wasn't someone who needed solutions the second she finished speaking. Sometimes she simply needed someone willing to sit in the silence with her until she was ready to keep going.

"I'd find excuses not to answer messages straight away," Alessia admitted with a quiet laugh at herself. "I'd convince myself I needed space when nothing had even happened." She shook her head, frustration creeping into her expression. "It wasn't fair on her."

"No," Amelia agreed softly, her eyes never leaving Alessia's face. "It wasn't."

Alessia frowned slightly before glancing sideways at her.

"You agree?"

"I do." There wasn't an ounce of criticism in Amelia's voice. Instead, there was a gentleness that only made Alessia listen more closely.

"But not because I think you did anything wrong." Amelia offered her a reassuring smile before reaching across to gently squeeze Alessia's forearm, the affectionate gesture lasting only a second before she let go again. "I think you've spent so long learning how to protect yourself that somewhere along the line, you forgot how to let someone look after you too."

Those words landed harder than Alessia expected. She didn't answer. She couldn't.

Instead, she let out a slow breath, lowering her gaze as a thoughtful expression settled across her face. After a moment, the corner of her mouth lifted into the smallest smile.

"You've been talking to Mum."

Amelia laughed quietly, shaking her head.

"I honestly haven't." The smile lingering on her face softened as she looked at the young woman beside her, unable to stop herself from brushing an imaginary crease from Alessia's sleeve like she'd done hundreds of times before. "I pay attention."

Alessia smiled to herself. "And that's exactly why you're always right."

"Oh, don't tell me that," Amelia laughed. "I'll never let you forget it."

The chauffeur stepped forward the moment they reached the waiting SUV, offering a polite smile before opening the rear passenger door. Amelia waited until Alessia had climbed inside before following after her, the soft thud of the door shutting behind them immediately muting the noise of the airport outside.

The cool air conditioning was an instant relief after the Florida heat. Alessia let out a quiet sigh as she settled back into the buttery leather seat, slipping her sunglasses from the top of her head before absent-mindedly placing them beside her. Through the tinted windows she watched the last of her suitcases disappear into the boot, the chauffeur exchanging a few words with the ground crew before climbing into the driver's seat.

As the car pulled smoothly away from the private terminal, Alessia reached into the pocket of her jacket and pulled out her phone. The screen lit up with dozens of notifications she'd ignored during the flight, but her thumb instinctively moved towards the group chat she'd shared with her friends back in Australia.

MILFS & Hot Dads 🤪

A smile tugged at the corner of her mouth.

Without overthinking it, she typed a quick message.

spida 🕷️ (Alessia) : landed. still alive. miami is ridiculously hot.

She barely had time to lock her phone before the replies started flooding in.

goose 🪿 (Ethan) : Already replacing us with rich Americans?

mimi 🌼 (Mia) : Tell your mum I said hi!

gobbo 🧌 (Harper) : You better FaceTime us when you get to the house.

grandad 👴🏼 (Noah) : Did you finally stop overpacking?

A quiet laugh escaped her.

She could almost hear every single one of them saying those words.

For a few moments, Australia didn't feel quite so far away.

Across from her, Amelia remained quietly observant.

She didn't interrupt or ask who Alessia was messaging. Instead, she simply watched the young woman she'd helped raise, taking in all the little changes that couldn't be noticed over video calls.

It was the small things.

The way Alessia smiled with her lips now rather than her whole face.

The faint hesitation before she replied to messages, as though she carefully weighed every word before sending it.

Even the way she sat had changed. When she was younger she'd curl one leg beneath herself or sprawl across the seat without a second thought. Now she sat straighter, shoulders carrying a tension she seemed completely unaware of.

It made Amelia's chest ache.

Growing older was inevitable.

Growing quieter wasn't.

Oblivious to Amelia's thoughts, Alessia looked back out of the window as the Miami skyline slowly came into view. Towering glass buildings caught the afternoon sun, palm trees lined the roads and every passing street looked so different from the life she'd left behind.

Her stomach fluttered. Not because she was nervous about Miami. She was thinking about her mum.

It had been over a year since she'd hugged Katherine properly. Phone calls and video chats had somehow become part of their routine, enough to make the distance feel smaller than it really was, but they could never replace actually being together.

Strangely, she wasn't worried.

Nothing had changed between them.

If anything, the year apart had only reminded Alessia how much she needed her mum in her life.

The thought alone brought an unconscious smile to her face as she rested her head lightly against the cool window, watching Miami unfold around her.

The SUV merged effortlessly onto the highway, leaving the airport behind as Miami slowly unfolded around them. Alessia rested her elbow against the door, watching the city pass by through the tinted window. Everywhere she looked seemed brighter somehow. Palm trees lined roads that stretched for miles, colourful murals covered the sides of buildings, and the skyline shimmered beneath the afternoon sun as though every pane of glass had been polished that morning.

It was so different from home.

Australia would always hold a piece of her heart, but there was something about Miami that felt... alive. The city seemed to move with an energy all of its own, every street busier than the last, yet somehow never feeling overwhelming.

Amelia noticed the curiosity written across Alessia's face and smiled to herself before gesturing towards one of the towering glass buildings coming into view.

"See that one?" she asked, waiting until Alessia followed the direction of her hand. "That's MA Fashion."

Alessia's eyes travelled upwards, taking in the sleek building that reflected the afternoon sun so brightly she had to squint. The silver lettering stretched proudly across the front of the building, elegant without being overdone.

"Mum works there?" she asked, unable to keep the surprise from her voice.

Amelia laughed softly.

"Every day." There was a quiet pride in her smile as she looked out at the building herself. "When your mum first moved here, it was just a couple of rented office floors. Watching her build it into this..." She shook her head, still sounding impressed despite having witnessed every step of the journey. "I don't think she ever imagined it'd become what it has."

Alessia couldn't help smiling.

She'd always been proud of her mum, but seeing everything she'd built standing right in front of her made it feel real in a way photographs and video calls never could.

As they continued through the city, Amelia pointed towards another collection of buildings further ahead, partially hidden behind rows of swaying palm trees.

"And just over there," she said, "that's your university."

Alessia immediately sat a little straighter, her attention shifting towards the sprawling campus as it came into view. The entrance was framed by tall oak trees and landscaped gardens, while modern academic buildings sat alongside older architecture that gave the campus a surprising amount of character. Students wandered between lectures carrying coffee cups and backpacks, completely unaware that, in just a few days, Alessia would be one of them.

"It's actually closer than you think," Amelia continued, glancing towards her. "About ten minutes from the house and only five from MA Fashion if traffic behaves itself."

"So Mum's going to know if I skip class?" Alessia asked, a teasing smile creeping onto her face.

Amelia's laughter filled the car.

"Oh, Bub." She shook her head, looking almost offended by the suggestion. "Your mum won't need to. She'll have me."

Alessia groaned dramatically, letting her head fall back against the leather headrest.

"I've moved fifteen thousand kilometres just to be supervised by the two of you."

"You say supervised."

"I mean stalked."

"I prefer lovingly monitored."

That earned another laugh from Alessia, one that came easier this time, and Amelia couldn't help noticing how the tension she'd carried since landing seemed to ease, if only a little.

As the city slowly gave way to quieter streets, the pace of the traffic eased until the SUV turned away from the busy waterfront and onto a wide, palm tree-lined boulevard. Towering residential buildings soon replaced office blocks, each one more impressive than the last, their glass exteriors reflecting the late afternoon sun in shimmering waves.

Alessia found herself leaning ever so slightly towards the window, quietly taking everything in.

"Welcome to Oceancrest Estates," Amelia said, a smile tugging at her lips as she watched Alessia's reaction rather than the view itself.

A pair of wrought iron security gates stood ahead, flanked by neatly sculpted hedges and natural stone walls that stretched far beyond what Alessia could see from the road. Security officers greeted the driver with a polite nod before the gates silently slid open, revealing a private residential community that looked more like the entrance to a luxury resort than somewhere people actually lived.

The roads wound gently through perfectly landscaped gardens, where towering palm trees swayed lazily in the breeze and colourful flower beds lined the pavements. Modern sculptures sat amongst flowing water features, while luxury vehicles occupied almost every driveway and underground entrance they passed.

"This place is..." Alessia breathed, unable to find the right word as she watched another sleek apartment building come into view.

"Ridiculous?" Amelia offered with a quiet laugh.

"I was going to say expensive."

"That too."

A smile found its way onto Alessia's face as she continued looking out of the window. Every building shared the same contemporary style - floor-to-ceiling glass, clean architectural lines and spacious balconies overlooking either the city skyline or the glittering waters of Biscayne Bay. There wasn't a single property that looked out of place, yet none of them felt identical either.

The SUV slowed outside one of the tallest buildings within the estate.

Unlike the others they'd passed, this one immediately drew Alessia's attention. Its striking glass façade curved elegantly around each floor, while cascading greenery softened the sharp modern design. A discreet water feature flowed beside the entrance, and uniformed concierge staff greeted residents by name as they came and went through the revolving glass doors.

The chauffeur pulled smoothly beneath the covered entrance before bringing the vehicle to a gentle stop.

For a brief moment, Alessia simply stared.

"So," she murmured, glancing towards Amelia with an almost disbelieving smile. "Mum really wasn't joking when she said she'd found somewhere nice."

Amelia laughed, the sound warm and familiar as she reached for the door handle.

"No," she smiled. "She wasn't."

Stepping out onto the pavement, Alessia instinctively looked upwards, following the height of the building until it disappeared into the brilliant blue Miami sky. Somewhere in there was her new home.

The thought alone sent a flutter of nerves through her stomach.

Not because she was uncertain.

But because, in just a few moments, she'd be seeing her mum for the first time in over a year.

Before the chauffeur had even climbed out to open the door, Alessia caught sight of a familiar figure waiting just beyond the entrance.

Katherine.

She stood near the bottom of the wide stone steps leading into the building, still dressed in the cream tailored trousers and fitted blouse she'd undoubtedly worn to work that morning. A designer handbag rested over one shoulder while her phone remained clutched loosely in one hand, though judging by the way she kept glancing towards the driveway, she'd long forgotten whatever had been on the screen.

The moment their eyes met, everything else seemed to disappear.

A smile spread across Katherine's face so quickly it was almost impossible to miss. It wasn't the polished smile she wore for magazine interviews or business meetings.

This one was real.

It reached her eyes instantly, softening every feature as relief washed over her.

"There she is."

The words barely left Katherine's lips before she was already making her way across the pavement, abandoning any attempt at looking composed. The chauffeur had only just opened the rear passenger door when Katherine reached it, not giving Alessia so much as a second to properly climb out before wrapping both arms tightly around her.

"Oh, sweetheart..."

Alessia laughed, the sound muffled against her mum's shoulder as she instinctively hugged her back just as tightly. For a moment neither of them spoke, simply holding onto one another as though making up for every missed hug over the past year.

God...

She'd missed this.

She'd missed the familiar perfume Katherine always wore, the warmth of her embrace and the feeling of being held by the one person who had never made her question whether she was loved.

Katherine pulled back just enough to cup the sides of Alessia's face, her hands lingering against her cheeks as though she were reassuring herself that her daughter was really standing in front of her.

"Look at you," she said quietly, her eyes scanning Alessia's face with a mixture of pride and disbelief. "You've somehow become even more beautiful."

"Mum!" Alessia groaned, already feeling her cheeks warm.

"What?" Katherine asked innocently, brushing a strand of dark hair behind her daughter's ear. "I'm allowed to embarrass you. It's in the parenting handbook."

"There isn't a parenting handbook."

"There is."

"There definitely isn't."

Alessia laughed again before leaning forward to hug her mum once more, squeezing her tightly.

This time Katherine let out a soft, surprised noise.

"Hang on..." she laughed, pulling back slightly as her hands instinctively rested on Alessia's arms. "Have you been working out?"

Alessia blinked. "What?"

Katherine gave one of Alessia's arms an exaggerated squeeze before looking up at her with raised eyebrows.

"Since when were you this strong?" she asked, genuine surprise colouring her voice. "I feel like I'm hugging someone who's been secretly training for the Olympics."

A grin spread across Alessia's face.

"I've been going to the gym."

"Oh, I can tell."

Katherine shook her head in mock disbelief before laughing warmly, unable to stop herself from pulling Alessia into yet another hug.

"My baby's all grown up."

"Mum."

"I'm serious!"

"You've hugged me three times already."

"I've got at least another fifty planned."

Standing a few feet away, Amelia watched the reunion unfold with a smile she couldn't quite hide. She'd seen Katherine negotiate multi-million-dollar contracts without so much as flinching, command boardrooms full of executives and handle impossible situations with remarkable composure.

Yet put her daughter in front of her...

...and none of that mattered anymore.

In that moment she wasn't the CEO of one of the fastest-growing fashion companies in the country.

She was simply a mother who finally had her little girl home.

Katherine finally loosened her grip on Alessia, though only just enough to properly look at her. Her hands remained resting lightly on her daughter's upper arms as her eyes wandered over her once more, almost as though she were making up for every moment she'd missed over the past year. A smile full of pride settled across her face before her expression shifted into one of genuine surprise. Giving Alessia's arm an experimental squeeze, Katherine raised her eyebrows before turning towards Amelia.

"You didn't tell me my daughter had started working out," she said, the mock accusation in her voice making it impossible to take her seriously. Her eyes flickered back towards Alessia as she laughed softly to herself. "I nearly put my back out hugging her."

Amelia couldn't help the quiet laugh that escaped her as she folded her arms loosely across her chest. Leaning casually against the side of the SUV, she looked between the two of them with the fond expression of someone who'd witnessed moments like this for years. There was something comforting about seeing them together again, as though a piece of the family she'd grown to love had finally been put back where it belonged.

"I assumed you'd have figured it out eventually," she replied with an amused shrug. "The girl plays football, Kath." She gestured towards Alessia as if the answer should have been obvious all along. "Did you honestly think she was spending all her spare time sitting around eating crisps?"

Katherine opened her mouth as though ready to defend herself before pausing to consider it. After a second she let out a defeated sigh, the corners of her lips curling upwards.

"That's actually a fair point."

"It usually is," Amelia answered with a grin that only grew wider when Katherine rolled her eyes in response.

"Oh, don't encourage her," Alessia sighed dramatically, looking between the two women with exaggerated disbelief. She slipped her hands into the pockets of her tracksuit bottoms, shaking her head as though she had already accepted defeat. "She's smug enough as it is."

"I heard that," Amelia replied, feigning offence as she placed a hand against her chest.

"You were supposed to."

The three of them laughed together, the sound carrying effortlessly through the warm Miami afternoon. It was strange how naturally everything had fallen back into place. There was no awkwardness, no feeling that over a year had passed since they'd all been standing together like this. Instead, it felt as though Alessia had simply been away for a long weekend, returning to a life that had patiently waited for her to come home.

Before Alessia could say another word, Katherine stepped forwards again, the affectionate smile on her face making her intentions painfully obvious.

"Oh, come here."

"Mum..." Alessia groaned, already laughing as she instinctively took half a step backwards.

"I'm serious."

"You literally just hugged me."

"And I'm going to do it again."

Without waiting for permission, Katherine wrapped her arms around her daughter once more, pulling her into another hug that somehow felt just as tight as the first. Alessia laughed into her mother's shoulder, surrendering almost immediately as she returned the embrace, unable to stop the smile stretching across her face.

"You've become incredibly clingy," she mumbled, her voice muffled by Katherine's shoulder as she gave in completely.

"I've waited over a year for this," Katherine replied without an ounce of shame, refusing to loosen her grip. "I'm making up for lost time, so you can just deal with it."

Before Alessia had the chance to answer, she suddenly felt another pair of arms slide around both of them.

Her eyes widened. "Seriously?"

Amelia had joined the hug without hesitation, resting her chin lightly against Katherine's shoulder as she hugged them both. There wasn't the slightest hint of embarrassment on her face either, only a content smile that made it obvious she had no intention of letting go any time soon.

"I wasn't missing out," she said simply, giving Alessia an affectionate squeeze.

For a moment, Alessia simply stood there, completely trapped between the two women. Looking from one to the other before dramatically tipping her head back towards the sky, she let out the most theatrical sigh she could manage.

"I've only been in Miami for five minutes," she complained, though the grin tugging at her lips completely ruined any attempt at sounding annoyed. "Having one mum is hard enough..."

She paused deliberately, glancing sideways towards Amelia.

"...Now I've apparently got two."

The words hung in the air for the briefest moment.

Neither Katherine nor Amelia spoke straight away.

Instead, their eyes met for no more than a second, a silent exchange passing between them before Katherine's laughter broke the quiet. Amelia quickly followed, shaking her head as she looked back towards Alessia, warmth softening every feature of her face.

"I'll happily accept that promotion," Amelia replied, unable to stop herself from smiling. There was something unexpectedly emotional about hearing Alessia say those words, even as a joke, and she hoped it didn't show quite as much as it felt.

"Oh no," Alessia laughed, immediately shaking her head. "You don't just get promoted."

"Says who?" Amelia challenged, one eyebrow lifting playfully.

"Says me."

“And what authority do you have?"

"I'm the child."

"Exactly," Amelia replied with a satisfied smile. "You don't make the rules."

Alessia let out another exaggerated groan before allowing her forehead to fall against Katherine's shoulder.

"I'm already outnumbered."

"You've always been outnumbered, Bub," Amelia said gently. Reaching up, she absent-mindedly smoothed down the collar of Alessia's jacket before brushing away an invisible crease from her sleeve. It was such a familiar habit that she didn't even realise she was doing it anymore. She'd fussed over Alessia since she was a little girl, and apparently adulthood wasn't going to stop her now. "It just took you eighteen years to realise it."

Alessia rolled her eyes, although the smile she wore softened her entire face.

"I'm beginning to think moving to Miami was a terrible idea."

Katherine laughed quietly, slipping an arm around her daughter's shoulders as they finally turned towards the entrance of the building. Looking between Alessia and Amelia, she couldn't help smiling to herself. For the first time in over a year, the two people she loved most were standing beside her again, teasing one another exactly as they always had.

"Come on," she said warmly, giving Alessia's shoulder a gentle squeeze as they started walking towards the glass entrance. "Let's get you home."

The moment the three women stepped through the revolving glass doors, a wave of cool air washed over them, instantly replacing the Florida humidity that had clung to their skin outside. Alessia let out a quiet breath she hadn't realised she'd been holding, grateful for the sudden relief as the chilled air wrapped around her. The lobby was every bit as impressive as the building's exterior, with polished marble floors stretching beneath their feet, soft ambient lighting reflecting from the towering ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the bay. A quiet water feature trickled peacefully in one corner, its gentle sound adding to the calm atmosphere, while fresh white orchids sat perfectly arranged across the reception desk.

Before they had taken more than a few steps inside, one of the concierge staff looked up from behind the marble counter. The moment he recognised Katherine, a warm smile spread across his face.

"Good afternoon, Ms Hartley," he greeted politely, straightening his suit jacket as he stepped away from the desk. "Welcome home."

"Thanks, Daniel," Katherine replied warmly, returning the smile with the same kindness she seemed to offer everyone she met. Without hesitation, she slipped an arm comfortably around Alessia's shoulders, unable to resist pulling her daughter a little closer. Pride shone plainly across her face as she gestured towards her.

"My daughter's finally decided to join us."

Daniel's expression brightened almost instantly as his attention shifted towards Alessia.

"So this is Alessia," he said, offering her a friendly smile. "We've heard all about you."

Alessia couldn't help laughing softly, glancing sideways towards her mum with an amused shake of her head.

"I hope only the good things."

"Oh, only the very good things," Daniel assured her, though the grin tugging at the corners of his mouth suggested Katherine had spoken about her far more than she was willing to admit.

"Mum..." Alessia laughed, narrowing her eyes playfully as she looked towards Katherine. "Please tell me you haven't been talking about me to the concierge."

"I might've mentioned you once or twice," Katherine admitted innocently, though the guilty smile creeping onto her face immediately gave her away.

"Once or twice?" Alessia repeated, her eyebrows lifting in disbelief. "The concierge knows my name."

Katherine's smile only widened.

"He knows your coffee order too."

Alessia stopped walking altogether.

"Mum."

"What?" Katherine asked, laughing quietly as she shrugged one shoulder. "I was excited."

There was something so unapologetically genuine about the admission that Alessia couldn't bring herself to be embarrassed. Instead, she simply rolled her eyes, the smile threatening to betray her amusement growing impossible to hide.

"I've been gone a year," she teased. "Not twenty."

"It felt like twenty."

The words were spoken so softly that Alessia almost missed them.

When she looked back towards her mum, the playful smile was still there, but there was something else behind it now. Relief. Happiness. The kind of emotion Katherine rarely allowed herself to show so openly.

Without thinking, Alessia reached across and gently squeezed her mum's hand.

"I'm here now."

Katherine's fingers instinctively tightened around hers for a brief second before she smiled again, blinking away whatever emotion had threatened to surface.

"You are."

A comfortable silence settled between them as they continued towards the private lifts, their footsteps echoing softly across the marble floor.

A few paces ahead, Amelia reached into her handbag before producing a sleek black key fob. She tapped it effortlessly against the private lift scanner, and almost immediately the doors slid open with a quiet chime.

"After you," Amelia smiled, stepping to one side with an exaggerated flourish.

Alessia laughed as she walked past her.

"Such a professional."

"I try."

"You've been trying for over ten years."

"And somehow I'm still putting up with you."

"Barely."

The lift doors closed behind them, shutting out the quiet murmur of the lobby below as the apartment disappeared from view beneath their feet.

For a few moments, nobody spoke.

Soft instrumental music drifted quietly through hidden speakers while the lift climbed steadily towards the penthouse, leaving only the gentle hum of the machinery around them.

Alessia found herself watching the city through the glass panel at the back of the lift. Miami stretched endlessly beneath them, sunlight bouncing from glass skyscrapers while the bay shimmered in the distance. It was beautiful.

Completely unfamiliar.

And yet...

For the first time since boarding the plane, she wasn't thinking about everything she'd left behind.

She was thinking about everything waiting ahead.

Beside her, Katherine's hand remained resting lightly against the middle of her back. Every so often she'd glance sideways towards her daughter before smiling quietly to herself, almost as though she still couldn't quite believe Alessia was standing beside her instead of appearing through the screen of a phone.

Alessia noticed almost immediately.

"You keep looking at me."

Katherine didn't even attempt to deny it.

"I'm allowed."

A small laugh escaped Alessia as she folded her arms loosely across her chest, turning to face her mum properly.

"You've checked to make sure I'm real at least six times already."

"I know."

"And?"

Katherine's smile softened.

"And I'm probably going to check another six."

Alessia's heart squeezed.

She shook her head with a quiet laugh before leaning across and gently nudging Katherine's shoulder with her own.

"I've missed you too."

The words were simple, but they carried more meaning than either of them needed to explain.

A quiet chime interrupted the moment as the lift slowed to a stop.

The doors slid open smoothly, revealing a private entrance hall flooded with natural light. Warm oak flooring stretched throughout the apartment beyond, while soft neutral tones and carefully chosen furnishings immediately made the space feel welcoming rather than intimidating. Floor-to-ceiling windows framed an uninterrupted view of Biscayne Bay, the afternoon sunlight dancing across the water as though the entire city had been waiting to welcome her home.

For a second...

Alessia simply stood there.

"...Wow."