He walked toward the door, then paused.
“Elena,” he called.
“Yes?”
“Good night,” he said, smiling.
It was such a simple sentence, and yet it stayed with me all night. Because I realized something I hadn’t wanted to admit—the cruelest part of all of this was that Adrian became the best version of himself after I stopped being his wife.
—?—
I parked in the driveway with Haille already bouncing in her car seat, her shoes thumping against the back of the passenger seat like she couldn’t wait a single second longer.
“Grandma Judy!” she announced with full conviction, like the name alone could unlock the door.
I smiled faintly as I unbuckled her. “Okay, okay. Hold Mommy’s hand.”
She immediately grabbed my finger and hurried toward the porch like she was on a mission. But before we even reached it, Haille let go and took off running toward the door, shouting Judy’s name at the top of her lungs.
The door opened before I could press the bell.
Judy stood there wearing an apron, her hair tied back, and her face softened the second she saw Haille.
“There’s my granddaughter,” she breathed.
Haille squealed, “GRAAANDMAAA!”
With a small groan, Judy crouched down, arms already waiting. Haille practically launched herself into her, and Judy hugged her like it had been months, when really... it had only been a few days.
Then Judy lifted her head and looked at me. “Elena,” she said warmly. “Come in, sweetheart.”
Sweetheart.
Not a just a word. An acknowledgment—just like what she had told me over the phone in Florida.You’re still my child.
“Hi, Judy,” I said softly. “Thank you for inviting me.”
Judy waved it off immediately. “Oh, please. Of course I invited you. You’re family.”
Her tone was firm, as if there was nothing to debate.
I stepped inside, while Haille stayed glued to Judy’s hip, and the smell of food hit me instantly. Garlic. Butter. Spices. The kind of lunch that obviously took time to make.
“It’s roasted chicken again, isn’t it?” I murmured with a small smile.
Judy turned and grinned like she’d been waiting for me to say it. “Of course. I made his favorite. Adrian is leaving, and I’m not sending my son off like he’s some stranger going on a business trip.”
Before I could respond, a voice came from the kitchen.
“Mom, this is way too much.”
Judy answered without hesitation. “It’s supposed to be.”
Avery appeared from the kitchen, saw me, and immediately pulled me into a tight hug before heading back inside.
Not long after that, Adrian walked out from the living room. He was wearing a plain dark t-shirt, athletic shorts, and an expensive watch he seemed to wear out of habit more than intention. But it wasn’t his outfit that tightened my chest. It was the fact that I could see it clearly. He was leaving soon. This might be the last time we’d see each other before he flew out.
He looked at me, then walked closer—still keeping enough distance. “Thanks for coming,” he smiled.
