Chapter 6 - A Home on the Base
Two days later, Maria stood in the middle of a sunlit living room at NSA Hampton Roads.
The Navy family housing unit was a charming, two-story townhome with a fenced-in backyard, located in a safe, gated military community filled with playing children and tree-lined streets. The smell of fresh paint and clean carpets filled the air.
Victoria’s moving crew had not just delivered Maria’s old belongings; Victoria had secretly sent an interior designer to fully furnish the place. The living room boasted a soft cream-colored sofa, a broad wooden dining table, and bright, colorful rugs. Sophia’s room was a dream—painted in soft lavender, with a brand-new bed, a bookshelf overflowing with children's classics, and a desk for her schoolwork.
"Mommy!" Sophia squealed, running into the living room and sliding across the hardwood floor in her socks. "Look! The backyard has a big tree! Can we build a birdhouse?"
Maria dropped to her knees and caught Sophia in a tight hug, burying her face in her daughter's soft hair. "We can build ten birdhouses, sweetie. Whatever you want."
A knock at the open front door drew Maria's attention. Victoria stood on the porch, wearing a sharp cream suit, holding a large potted orchid.
"Grandma," Maria said, standing up. "Come in, please."
Victoria stepped inside, looking around the bright room with a nod of approval. "Decent construction. Good security. Much better than that dreary house in Chesapeake."
"It's perfect," Maria said, her voice filled with genuine gratitude. "Grandma... I don't even know how to begin thanking you. You saved us."
Victoria set the orchid on the dining table and turned to Maria, her expression solemn. "I didn't save you, Maria. You saved yourself the moment you walked into that shelter and chose your daughter's safety over your pride. I merely provided the artillery."
Victoria sat down at the table, inviting Maria to join her. "I owe you an apology, Maria."
Maria was taken aback. "An apology? For what?"
"For staying away for so long," Victoria said quietly, her gray eyes showing a rare flash of vulnerability. "When Elena lied to me years ago and severed ties, I allowed my pride to harden my heart. I assumed you were just like her. I should have reached out to you when you joined the Navy. I should have been there when Sophia was born. I let my anger at my daughter blind me to the wonderful woman my granddaughter had become."
Maria reached across the table and placed her hand over Victoria’s spotted, elegant fingers. "You're here now, Grandma. That's all that matters to Sophia and me."
"Grammy!" Sophia came running in, holding a drawing she had just finished at her new desk. She held it up proudly.
It was a crayon drawing of a big, sturdy brick house with a giant sun overhead. In the yard were three figures holding hands: a small girl, a woman in a blue uniform, and an old lady with silver hair wearing a tiny crown.
Victoria took the paper, her hands trembling slightly as she looked at the silver-haired figure with the crown. A single tear escaped her eye, which she quickly dabbed away with a silk handkerchief.
"Is this me?" Victoria asked softly.
May you like
"Yes," Sophia beamed. "You're the Queen Grandmasaurus who saved us from the cold!"
Victoria let out a genuine, hearty laugh—a sound Maria had never heard from her before. "Queen Grandmasaurus... I think I like that title better than Chairman of the Board."
