“I built that compartment myself.”
Sofia stared.
“You did?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“I thought nobody would ever look there.”
She laughed softly.
“I found it because the paint looked uneven.”
Daniel shook his head.
“Twenty years of espionage defeated by interior decorating.”
Even Alexander laughed.
Then Daniel became serious.
“This place was never supposed to become a burden.”
Sofia looked around.
“It isn’t.”
“You want to keep it?”
She thought.
Then smiled.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because everyone wanted it for the wrong reasons.”
She looked toward the window.
“I want to keep it for the right one.”
PART 8 — THE WEDDING DRESS IN THE GARDEN
One year after Sofia came to my doorstep at three in the morning, I found her standing in my backyard holding her wedding dress.
The same dress.
Repaired.
Clean.
No torn fabric.
No stains.
No evidence of the night that had almost broken her.
I stared.
“What are you doing?”
