Aaliyah stood by the phone and stared at Antonio. The front desk attendant was still speaking on the other end of the line, but Aaliyah wasn’t paying attention anymore.

“I’m sorry, what did you say?”

“My mother was pregnant before the car accident. I kept having the dream, except you always took her place. My brain kept trying to make me see the connection and I haven’t until right this minute.”

“Antonio, your mother died in that accident.” Aaliyah frowned and shook her head.

“No. No she didn’t. My father died in the accident. My mother was the one who dragged me out of the car. She was alive when we got to the hospital, Lia. Like you were.” Antonio frowned too. “What if the same thing happened? I might have a sibling out there somewhere.”

“I highly doubt it’s this woman downstairs.” And with that Aaliyah remembered the phone in her hands. “Hello? Yes, sorry about that. No, we don’t know anyone by that name. Tell her to leave a message. No, we definitely do not want to see her. Thank you.”

Aaliyah hung up the phone and walked over to Antonio. “I’m going to be so happy when I can put a gate and a driveway between me and the crazies!”

Antonio stood up and snagged one of her hands. “I remembered something new, Lia. After thirty years, it just came to me. Like that!” Antonio snapped his fingers. In his eyes was a mixture of wonder and fear.

“Not that suddenly, my love. It has taken thirty years of the same bad dream and the loss of a child to get that one memory. You earned this.” Aaliyah stroked Antonio’s cheek. “Let’s hope this is just the beginning.”

Aaliyah kissed Antonio and walked over to the crib to check on a still-sleeping Adeya. “Your daddy remembered something little one. I think today is going to be a good day.”

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