Sonia was glowing and talking a mile a minute, her hands going everywhere. Phil was nodding and looking mightily amused. Sonia spotted her. “Mommy!” “Hi, sweet pea.” Her daughter ran up the stairs to her and Vicky bent down to accept a hug. She buried her face in Sonia’s dark curls and breathed in her scent. She hadn’t finished being grateful for the gift of being able to do this every day; she wasn’t sure she’d ever stop. Phil watched them hug and smiled. Seeing Vicky with Sonia these past few months had been some of the happiest moments in the whole of his life: the love between them was something he’d never seen or felt from his own mother, and he rejoiced for Vicky and Sonia to have it back in their lives. His eyes met Vicky’s and they smiled at each other. “How are you today, babe?” he asked. “Good.”
