Three days later, Emily was discharged from the hospital.
Bear offered to drive her and Lucy home.
Emily hesitated.
"Are you sure you don't have somewhere to be?"
Bear looked at her.
"Where else would I need to be?"
She smiled faintly.
They traveled in Bear's old pickup truck.
His motorcycle remained at the clubhouse, where Marcus had arranged for someone to bring it home later.
Lucy sat in the back seat.
She had spent the entire morning talking about motorcycles, the Iron Wolves, and whether Grandpa Bear could make pancakes shaped like dinosaurs.
Bear had promised to try.
When they arrived at Emily's small house, he carried her bag inside.
The house was modest but warm.
There were drawings on the refrigerator, school photographs on the wall, and a small bookshelf beside the living room sofa.
Bear noticed a framed photograph on a side table.
It showed Emily standing beside Nathan, holding a newborn baby.
He picked it up.
"Is this Lucy?"
Emily nodded.
"That was her first day home."
Bear looked at the tiny baby.
"She's beautiful."
"She was so small."
He smiled.
"Just like you were."
Emily watched him.
"You remember?"
"I remember everything."
He placed the photograph back carefully.
Then he noticed something else.
A small wooden box sat on the shelf.
"What's that?"
Emily walked over.
"Some of Nathan's things."
She opened it.
Inside were a few photographs, a watch, a folded letter, and a small velvet pouch.
Emily took out the letter.
"I found this after he died. I never had the courage to read it properly."
Bear looked at her.
"Why?"
"Because it mentions you."
She handed it to him.
The letter was addressed to Emily.
Nathan had written it several months before his death.
Bear unfolded the paper carefully.
The handwriting was uneven.
Emily,
If you're reading this, I hope you've found some peace.
There is something I have wanted to tell you for a long time.
I know you and your father have been apart. I know you believe he doesn't care about you. But I don't think that's true.
I met him only a few times, but I saw how he looked at you. I saw the way he kept your childhood photographs. I saw the way his voice changed whenever he talked about you.
He may be stubborn. He may be difficult. But I don't believe he ever stopped loving you.
If you ever get the chance to speak to him again, I hope you take it.
Not because you owe him anything.
But because life is too short to let pride become the last thing standing between two people who love each other.
And if we ever have a daughter, I hope she gets to know her grandfather.
Love, Nathan.
Bear stopped reading.
His eyes were wet.
Emily sat down.
"He wrote that before Lucy was born."
Bear looked at her.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"I didn't know how. And after he died, everything became difficult."
She paused.
"Sometimes I wanted to call you. But then I remembered our last argument."
Bear folded the letter.
"Your husband understood something I didn't."
Emily looked at him.
"What?"
"That being right isn't always worth what it costs."
She nodded slowly.
Bear placed the letter back in the box.
For several minutes, neither spoke.
Then Emily looked at him.
"I wish Nathan had met you again."
Bear's voice broke.
"So do I."
Chapter 10: The Pancake Promise
The next morning, Bear woke up earlier than he had in years.
He drove to a nearby grocery store and bought flour, eggs, milk, butter, strawberries, and chocolate chips.
He also bought a small bottle of maple syrup.
He returned to Emily's house carrying two large grocery bags.
Lucy opened the door.
"Grandpa Bear!"
"Good morning, troublemaker."
She giggled.
"What did you bring?"
"Everything required for a very important mission."
"What mission?"
"Making pancakes."
Lucy's eyes widened.
"Really?"
"Absolutely."
Emily appeared behind her.
She was moving more comfortably, although she still had some pain.
"You're making breakfast?"
Bear nodded.
"I made a promise."
Emily smiled.
"I remember."
They went into the kitchen.
Bear rolled up his sleeves.
Lucy climbed onto a chair, eager to help.
He poured flour into a bowl.
Lucy added milk.
Then she cracked an egg.
Unfortunately, most of the shell fell into the mixture.
Bear stared at the bowl.
Lucy stared at Bear.
"Did I do it wrong?"
He considered the situation.
"Not at all. That's a special ingredient."
Emily laughed.
"What special ingredient?"
"Crunch."
Lucy burst into giggles.
Bear stirred the mixture.
He poured the first pancake onto the pan.
It spread into a strange shape.
Lucy leaned closer.
"That's not a star."
Bear looked offended.
"Excuse me. That's a highly advanced star."
Emily laughed harder.
The pancake burned slightly.
Bear flipped it too late.
The kitchen filled with a faint smell of smoke.
Lucy covered her mouth.
"Grandpa Bear!"
He waved a towel.
"Everything is under control."
Emily laughed until tears appeared in her eyes.
It was the first time Bear had heard that sound in more than a decade.
And it was the most beautiful sound in the world.