I straighten, letting the jacket fall into place, then meet her gaze and hold it for a beat longer than necessary. The air between us feels thick. Charged. Like we’re both pretending this is just a normal visit.
She wraps her arms around herself. “Thank you,” she says quietly. “For the groceries. For dinner. For being decent about all of this.”
I take a step closer. Not crowding her, just closing some of the distance she’s trying to maintain. “You don’t have tothank me for being decent,” I say, my voice dropping lower. Calmer. The same tone I use in negotiations when I need someone to actually hear me. “And you don’t have to do any of this alone.”
Her lips part slightly, like she’s going to argue, but nothing comes out.
“I meant what I said,” I continue, holding her gaze. “I’m here. Whatever this looks like, I’m in. You don’t have to trust me right away, but I’m not going anywhere. And I’m not leaving you to handle this by yourself.”
Something flickers across her face. Relief, maybe. Or surprise. For just a second, the walls come down and I see her. Really see her. The fear underneath all that armor. The exhaustion. The small, stubborn hope she won’t let herself name.
Then she gathers herself again, shoulders straightening, chin lifting just slightly.
But her eyes linger on mine a heartbeat too long. And when she finally looks away, there’s color in her cheeks that wasn’t there before.
“Okay,” she says softly.
I let myself smile, just a little. “Okay.”
nine
. . .
Natalie
The circular drivewayin front of my dad’s house is already occupied by Rachel’s SUV and my dad’s Mercedes, so I park on the street.
The house is massive. Spanish Colonial Revival with arched windows, terracotta tile roof, and perfectly manicured hedges that probably cost more to maintain than my monthly rent. It sits on almost an acre in Hancock Park.
I didn’t grow up here. By the time my dad found out about me, he was already married to Rachel with a baby on the way. I was always welcome, but between his new family and my life with my mom across town, I just never ended up spending much time here. Different worlds, different routines.
Through the tall windows, I can see movement inside. The front door swings open, and my half brother Ethan comes barreling out with his soccer ball.
“Natalie!” He grins, all legs and arms and shaggy pre-teen hair.
“Hey, E.”
Mia appears behind him, ponytail bouncing. “Will you be here later? I wanted to ask you about this assignment for AP Lit.”
“I can’t stay long, but text me later if you want.”
She gives me a thumbs up and climbs into the SUV parked in the driveway as Rachel emerges with her purse and water bottles, keys already in hand.
“Natalie! So good to see you, honey.” She gives me a quick hug. “Sorry to rush out, but I’m already running late getting these two where they need to be. Promise you’ll come for dinner this week?”
“Definitely.”
“Perfect. Your dad’s inside.” She calls toward the SUV. “Ethan, did you grab your water bottle? Mia, where are your shin guards?”
I watch them get settled, the familiar chaos of cleats and bags and half-shouted reminders, and then Rachel waves from the driver’s seat as they pull away.
I stand there for a second, watching the SUV disappear around the corner. This is what normal looks like. Two kids, two parents, weekend soccer games and AP Lit assignments. The kind of family rhythm my mom and I never had because it was always just us.
I wonder what it was like for my dad, stepping into this version of fatherhood with Rachel when he’d missed it completely with me. If it hurt. If it felt like a second chance or a constant reminder of what he’d lost.
And I wonder what my own kid’s life will look like. Will they grow up watching me build something with Jake, or willthey be the one standing on the outside of someone else’s tidy family picture?
My hand drifts to my stomach before I can stop it.
