Hello Beautiful

by Ann Napolitano

William had the strange thought that he might never see his parents again—that they’d only ever had one child, and it wasn’t him.

Sylvie had observed that her mother and Julia often shared a peaceful silence at the kitchen table. But when Sylvie and her mother were together, the air crackled as if filled with static electricity.

Then he smiled with so much warmth it was as if a sun had risen inside him. “Hello beautiful,” he said. And with those words, Cecelia knew that she was forgiven, and she forgave him too.

He appeared to be sober, and he gave his granddaughter all of his love,

she saw the failure of her own marriage and her personal failure in convincing Charlie to be who she’d wanted him to be.

William didn’t understand what had happened between him and his sister-in-law on the bench that night, but it felt dangerous, like a shining dagger