Chapter 8 - The Dream
Six months later.
The morning sun shone brightly through the floor-to-ceiling windows of a state-of-the-art medical building in Lincoln Park.
Above the grand glass entrance sat high steel letters reading:
THE LILY MONROE CHILDREN'S SURGICAL CENTER
The street outside was blocked off for the grand opening ceremony. Hundreds of doctors, nurses, local families, and news crews were gathered on the lawn.
Inside the private office on the top floor, Ava stood in front of a mirror, wearing a pristine white lab coat over her navy scrubs. Embroidered in silver thread on her lapel was her name:
Ava Monroe, MSN, Pediatric Surgical Coordinator.
She looked at her reflection, touching the silver cross necklace resting against her neck. Tears gathered in her hazel eyes—not tears of grief, but of a deep, beautiful peace.
We did it, Lily, Ava thought silently, looking up at the clear blue sky outside. No child will ever be turned away here.
The door clicked open.
Roman walked into the office, holding a massive bouquet of white lilies. He looked formidable in his black suit, but his eyes were soft as he walked over to her.
He set the flowers on her desk and wrapped his arms around her waist from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder, looking at their reflection in the glass.
"Are you ready, Doctor?" Roman asked gently, kissing her cheek.
"I'm a nurse practitioner, Roman, not a doctor," she corrected with a soft laugh, leaning her head back against his chest.
"To me, you're the person who commands this entire building," Roman said smoothly, his large hands resting gently over her stomach.
Ava smiled, turning around in his arms to wrap her hands around his neck. "Thank you, Roman. For making Lily's dream real."
"You made it real, Ava," Roman said, his voice dropping into a serious, passionate tone. "I just provided the steel. You provided the heart."
The door flew open, and seven-year-old Sophie came running inside, wearing a small white doctor's coat over her pink dress, holding a toy stethoscope.
"Mommy! Look! I'm a nurse too!" Sophie cheered, running over and wrapping her arms around Ava’s legs.
Mommy.
The word hit Ava’s heart like a warm tidal wave. Over the last six months, Sophie had naturally stopped calling her Ava and had started calling her Mommy—a title Ava cherished more than any degree or title in the world.
May you like
Ava dropped to her knees, hugging Sophie tightly, kissing her cheek. "You're the best little nurse in the whole world, sweetie."
Roman knelt down beside them, wrapping his broad arms around both of his girls, pulling them into a tight, unbreakable family embrace.
