"Baby, it's Mommy. I missed you so much."
Something hot rose in my chest. I started to tell her to get out. But before the words made it all the way, Maya stood up.
"Dad..."
I stopped.
Maya looked at Natalie without softness or panic. Natalie saw what she wanted to see in that stillness and smiled through her tears.
"I knew you'd understand, honey," she said, touching Maya's cheek.
Maya looked at her steadily. "Mom, we dreamed of this moment for 10 years. We knew you might come back one day. And you're back just in time. We want to give you only one thing."
Natalie's eyes lit up. "Is that my Mother's Day gift?"
"Almost," Maya said and walked to the kitchen cabinet.
