Chapter 29

San Francisco, CA - 2022

Halona took a deep breath as she stepped into the dental clinic. It had been years since her last visit, and she couldn't help the small wave of anxiety that washed over her. The receptionist greeted her warmly, and Halona offered a polite smile before settling into a plush waiting room chair. Her thoughts began to drift, pulling her back to memories of Shadow Valley.

"Halona?" a voice called, pulling her from her reverie. She looked up to see a kind-faced hygienist standing in the doorway. "The doctor is ready for you."

She followed the hygienist into the treatment room, taking in the pristine equipment and the soothing scent of mint. The chair was as uncomfortable as she remembered, and her heart pounded as the hygienist began the cleaning.

"So, Halona, it's been a while since your last visit," the hygienist said, her tools scraping gently against Halona's teeth. "Your teeth are in surprisingly good condition, considering."

Halona chuckled, though it came out dry. "You don't know the half of it," she murmured, her mind drifting back to Shadow Valley. The memory was vivid - she could almost feel the gritty texture of the chalky powder they used as toothpaste, the rough bristles of a worn toothbrush scratching her gums. Worse yet, there had been only one toothbrush for the whole family. It had taken months, but she finally convinced Buck that they all needed their own.

The hygienist's voice brought her back to the present. "Alright, Halona, we're all done with the cleaning. Now, let's take a look at that cavity."

Halona nodded, her heart still racing from the memories. The dentist entered the room with a warm smile.

"Hello, Halona. Let's see what we're dealing with here," he said, examining her teeth.

After a brief check, the dentist informed her that the cavity was small and could be easily filled. "We'll get that taken care of, and then we'll do a quick whitening treatment. Your teeth are in great shape, considering it's been a while since your last visit," he added, echoing the hygienist.

Halona couldn't help but laugh. "Yeah, you really have no idea," she said, leaning back in the chair as the dentist began the filling process.

While Halona was stuck in the chair, Sydney took advantage of the moment, tapping something quickly into her phone. "Lucinda from Dior called about the Oscars gown," she said, trying to keep the conversation light.

Halona scowled and mumbled something unintelligible against the dentist's fingers.

Sydney's face brightened. "You have an appointment next week to finalize the details. Damian thinks it's a good idea for you to be there, you know, to reduce the paparazzi frenzy outside your house," she added with a hint of concern.

Halona sighed, knowing he was right but dreading the idea. "I'd much rather just stay home and watch the Oscars on TV," she managed to mumble before spitting into the cup.

Sydney chuckled. "I know, but it's all part of the job, right? And who knows, maybe it'll be fun. You might even enjoy it," she said, giving Halona's hand a reassuring squeeze.

Halona offered a wry smile. "We'll see," she muttered, settling back into the chair.

"Alright, the filling is all done. Now, let's get those teeth looking their best with a whitening treatment," the dentist said, adjusting the tray in her mouth.

Halona, struggling to speak with the tray in place, attempted to start a conversation. "Hey, Syd, did I tell you Nick called me last night?" she asked, her words slightly garbled.

Sydney's eyebrows shot up. "I'm surprised he hadn't called sooner. How's he doing?"

Halona shrugged. "He seems good. Married now, with a kid. I guess you already knew that, though."

"Yeah," Sydney nodded. "He's really changed since you went missing. He's sober now, even hired a private investigator to look into your disappearance," she said, her voice trailing off.

Halona's mouth dropped open in surprise, almost dislodging the tray.

Sydney continued, "You know, he wrote a song about you. It's called 'Halo,'" she said with a sad smile.

Halona's eyes widened in disbelief. "You're kidding," she said, shaking her head.