Chapter 2

Watching Ethan walk away, I felt relieved.

This was fine. He and I were never meant to cross paths.

Suddenly, my phone buzzed a few times in my bag before ringing.

I looked down. The lock screen showed a night sky lit up with fireworks. Under the stars, a boy in a thin cream sweater was warming the hands of a girl in a black coat.

This scene had appeared in my dreams on every New Year's Eve for the past fifteen years. But when I woke up, all I had left was shattered reality and a pillow soaked in tears.

On the caller ID, one name flashed: Daniel.

My tears burst out at once, like a dry riverbed hit by sudden rain. My fingers trembled as I pressed the answer key.

The call connected. I lifted the phone to my ear, listening in silence, as if waiting for a verdict—the voice I had waited fifteen years to hear.

"Grace, they all said my cupcakes were too sweet. I wonder if you could come try one after work." The speaker was Daniel Turner, my husband.

His light, playful tone was exactly how I remembered it. Before, I would have laughed right away and teased him for being slick. But now I only wanted to cry, with too many words stuck in my throat to say a thing.

Daniel was careful and caught on at once. His voice grew a little flustered. "Grace, did something happen? Where are you? I'll come get you."

I tried hard to keep my emotions in check. "I'm fine, just got something in my eye. I'll be off work on time today. You and Adam stay home and wait for me."

He finally relaxed and happily promised, "I'll do what the doctor says."

I hung up, but my feelings didn't settle for a long time.

Fifteen years ago, I received the same phone call.

But I was busy working overtime and turned down Daniel's invitation to go home.

That night, I got a call from the police. They said there had been a car crash near the hospital, and a father and son had died.

A police officer handed me a small wooden box. "This was found in the passenger seat. Sorry for your loss."

I gently pressed the button, and the lid sprang open. On top was a card, written in childish handwriting: [Mom, Merry Christmas! The cupcake Dad made was so yummy. Make sure you enjoy it.]

The cupcake was still warm, but the one who baked it was already gone.

Daniel and Adam had the accident while coming to the hospital to spend Christmas with me.

I couldn't handle the pain and broke down.

I couldn't go on living. I wanted to throw myself into the sea when a cold mechanical voice suddenly appeared.

It said, "Marry James, and your husband and child will come back to life."

I found a glimmer of hope in despair, but fifteen years passed, and nothing changed.

It wasn't until Ethan invented the time machine that I understood—I finally got the day to reunite with my family.

*****

I opened the door to the home I hadn't stepped into for fifteen years. My vision blurred as I tiptoed into the living room, afraid that even the slightest sound might shatter this dreamlike world.

In the kitchen, Daniel and Adam were completely focused on the oven.

"Dad, is it almost done? I'm getting hungry," Adam said.

"Five more minutes," Daniel replied. "Hang on a little longer. Maybe Mom will be home by then."

Yes. I was home. And most importantly, they were here too. I wasn't alone anymore.

I had truly gotten back what I once lost.

My grip loosened and my purse fell to the ground. The two heard it and turned around.

Daniel picked Adam off the stool and led him over to me.

"Grace, you're back?" Daniel said, his voice full of surprise and delight.

"Yeah, I'm back." I crouched down to hug Adam, fighting back the tears threatening to spill. "So, what's Dad been baking for you?"

Adam pouted. "Dad's being unfair. He only made me four fruit cupcakes. The rest are all walnut."

Daniel sighed. "I just got done coaxing you, and here you are tattling on me again. I made more of the kind Mom likes because she's been working so hard."

My heart was pounding wildly. I smiled and tugged at the hem of Daniel's shirt. "That's so sweet of you."

The oven dinged. Daniel got up and headed toward the kitchen.

"You must be tired," he said. "There's coffee brewing on the balcony. I'll bring the cupcakes over in a minute."

That Christmas, the three of us celebrated together, happily.

The square downstairs was no longer empty, filled now with the laughter of children.

I held a cup of coffee that had cooled to the perfect temperature, Adam dozing on the cushion beside me, and Daniel behind me with his arms wrapped tightly around me, loving me as if I were his whole world.

Suddenly, tears rolled down my cheeks. Daniel handed me a tissue and teased, "Who made you upset, Grace?"

I tilted my head up at him, looking through the blur of tears. His tousled bangs half-shadowed his brow, and his eyes carried that familiar, gentle depth.

I said something really corny from my heart. "Daniel, I've missed you so much."

His face flushed, even the tips of his ears turning pink.

He hugged me tighter and whispered in my ear with a smile, "What a coincidence. I've missed you too."