And Then He Smiled | Season 2

Chapter 1

Spring, 1986

"Y/N, do you have a minute?"

Y/N looked up from the paperwork spread across her desk.

The director of the children's home stood in the doorway with a folder tucked under her arm.

"Of course."

"We were selected for a special trip this Sunday."

Y/N smiled automatically.

The children loved outings.

"Where are we going?"

The director's expression brightened.

"Neverland."

The smile immediately vanished from Y/N's face.

For a second, she thought she'd heard wrong.

"Neverland?"

"The ranch, yes."

Her stomach tightened.

"Michael Jackson's Neverland?"

The director nodded.

"We were invited along with two other children's homes."

Y/N lowered her eyes.

Her pulse had already begun to quicken.

Two years.

Almost two years.

She hadn't seen him once.

Not since the hospital.

Not since everything had fallen apart.

"Do you know if he'll be there?" she asked carefully.

The director shook her head.

"I don't think so. Last I heard, he's out of the country."

Relief washed over her.

Followed immediately by something else.

Disappointment.

Which was ridiculous.

She didn't want to see him.

At least that's what she kept telling herself.

"Well," the director continued, "the children would be devastated if we declined."

Y/N knew that.

Of course she knew that.

She forced a smile.

"We'll go."

---

Sunday arrived faster than expected.

The bus rolled toward a set of enormous gates surrounded by security.

The children were practically vibrating with excitement.

Questions flew from every direction.

"Are there really rides?"

"Do they really have animals?"

"Can we ride the train?"

"Will Michael Jackson be there?"

That last question made Y/N stare out the window.

Pretending she hadn't heard it.

The gates finally opened.

And suddenly-

it felt as though they had entered another world.

The children gasped.

So did the adults.