Page 21 of A Perfect Fit

“Who’s it for then?” I ask.

“It’s a card with a drawing of Isabelle,” Anna explains, her eyes shimmering with delight as she passes me the card. She’s wearing the black polka-dot scrunchie we bought at Isabelle’s booth last week.

“Anna’s wanted to be a fashion designer since she was five,” Lucy adds as I open the card. “She’s been telling me that Isabelle’s her role model. I’ve never met Isabelle before, but she sounds like a lovely human.”

Wonderful. My niece has become a fan of Isabelle.

“Actually, I forgot. You’re in the drawing, too, Uncle Jace!” Anna exclaims. “Look, this is you.” She points to the stick figure with brown hair next to the sketch of Isabelle, which is more sophisticated than the drawing of me. Between us, there’s a large pink love heart in the air.

Hang on. Why did Anna draw me as a stick figure and not Isabelle?

I decide not to ask her that—I’m not sure I want to know the answer—and instead put on an encouraging smile.

“It’s beautiful, Anna. I know you’ll make an amazing fashion designer when you grow up,” I say and mean it. Genuinely.

“Since you and Isabelle are friends, will you help me give this to her?” she asks.

“Of course, Anna.”

What have I gotten myself into?

“Yay!” A wide grin plasters itself across her face. “You’re the best.”

Anything is worth it, seeing my niece smile like that. And when I promise something to anyone, I’ll deliver it, no matter how big or small.

Even if it means having to see Isabelle again.

“How does it feel to be back?” Lucy asks me as Anna starts giving herself a tour of my office. “I can’t believe it’s been eight years.”

Being suddenly sent to London for boarding school at sixteen, a city where I knew no one other than my aunt, wasn’t something I had expected. And moving schools, let alone countries, wasn’t easy.

Back then, I resented my parents—Dad, specifically—for sending me away. While I understand they were going through a tough time with their marriage, I felt like I was simply being tossed to the side. Dad’s reasoning that attending boarding school would be a good learning experience and good for my studies seemed like a floppy excuse. Lucy had already moved out of our home by then, and Mom disagreed with Dad and tried to convince him against it, but it was no use.

In the end, the papers were signed, and the next thing I knew, I found myself on a long-haul flight to London. I often wondered if there was something else my parents didn’t want me to know about—it was evident in the way they’d be fighting downstairs and then suddenly stop if I came down. As a teenager, I wanted answers, but I was only left with more questions.

But none of that matters anymore. Dad’s no longer with us, and there’s no use in holding a grudge.

“It feels good to be back,” I say. “I loved London, and I loved the experience of living in another city, but I missed New York. I feel like I’m finally back home. And I missed everyone.”

Deep down, I always knew I’d come back.

“Anyone in particular?” Lucy teases.

I laugh. “Just you, Luce. And Anna, of course.”

Lucy and I catch up some more before she and Anna head off.

Anna gives me a wave as she walks out the door. “Bye, Uncle Jace!”

“See you, Anna,” I say, waving back. “Remember to get me a card next time, too.”

Anna pokes her tongue out at me. With a fuzzy feeling, I place her card on my desk and resume tackling my Excel spreadsheet, finally figuring it out this time.

Another thirty minutes pass, and I check my calendar, remembering Aaron—my best friend and one of Carter Marketing Solutions’ executive directors—is supposed to be here by now for our work meeting. Given punctuality isn’t exactly one of his strong suits, I send him a text to follow up.

The door swings open just as I hit Send.

“Working hard or hardly working?” Aaron smirks as he strolls inside, one hand in his pocket and the other clutching a paper bag. The crisp smell of burgers and fries infiltrates my office.