Chapter 47
Chapter 47: The Reunion on the Hudson
To celebrate the launch of Anna’s firm, Carter and I flew to New York for the grand opening. The studio was located in a converted warehouse in Long Island City, with massive windows overlooking the East River and the Manhattan skyline.
The room was filled with young designers, clients, and friends. Carter was standing by the wine bar, talking to a prominent art critic about a collaboration they were planning between his Chicago agency and Anna’s firm.
Anna walked over to me, wearing a sharp, tailored cream suit. She looked elegant, powerful, and utterly complete. She handed me a glass of champagne.
"Look at us, Mom," she whispered, leaning her head against my shoulder as we watched the sun set behind the Empire State Building. "Ten years ago, they thought we’d be broken. They thought I’d be stuck without an education, and you’d be drowning in family guilt."
"They underestimated what happens when you try to rob a mother, Anna," I said, clinking my glass against hers. "They thought the family name belonged to them. But you’re the one who made it mean something honorable."
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"We did it together," she said.
As the lights of Manhattan began to flicker on, casting golden reflections across the dark water of the river, I realized that our story was no longer about a theft, a lawsuit, or a prison sentence. Those were just the chapters that cleared the weeds. This—this beautiful, bright, successful reality—was the true estate.
