“Don’t hesitate to ask for help, okay?” Avery said.
“Yeah, Avery, relax.” I smiled faintly. “Since when have I ever hesitated?”
Avery let out a soft laugh.
A little while later, Adrian came out, as calm as ever.
“Ave,” he said, “can you watch Haille for a bit?”
Avery frowned slightly, then stood. “Okay.”
She went back inside.
Adrian took the chair Avery had been using. The chairs were close enough that I caught the familiar scent I’d always associated with him—bergamot and something faintly woody.
Strangely, my heart began to race, and I forced myself not to look at him for too long.
Adrian cleared his throat before speaking. “Elena… I’m sorry about my mom. If she’s been a little… overbearing.”
“What do you mean?” I finally turned to him.
“She cares about you,” he said quietly. “And I—” he paused. “I made her feel ashamed… in a way she never deserved to carry.”
He drew a short breath, like he was choosing his words carefully. “But I also don’t want you to misunderstand,” hecontinued. “She isn’t good to you because she feels sorry for you. She genuinely sees you as her own.”
“Yeah…” I nodded lightly. “I understand.”
I swallowed. “And I’m grateful she’s still the same.”
Adrian nodded.
“While I’m away…” he said, his gaze shifting ahead. “I know I usually call when she’s with Avery.” He paused, like he was choosing his words more carefully than usual. “But this time… I’ll be gone longer.” His voice softened. “Would it be okay if I video call Haille even when she’s with you?”
Then he turned to face me. “I’ll follow your schedule. I just… I don’t want her to feel like I disappeared.”
I went quiet for a moment.Did that mean I’d still get to see him often?
Strangely… my mind didn’t resist the idea.
“Of course,” I said at last. “We’ll arrange it so the timing works.”
“Good,” Adrian said, smiling.
We fell silent, each of us sinking into our own thoughts. And somehow, no pain surfaced—only a soft, steady sense of safety and comfort… the kind I once thought I had lost.
After a while, I decided it was time to leave. When I asked Haille if she wanted to come home with me, she shook her head, clearly still wanting to play.
“I still wanna play with Daddy and Avery!” she said excitedly.
“I’ll drop her off later,” Adrian said.
“Alright. Mommy’s going home first, okay?” I kissed Haille’s head.
“Bye-bye, Mommy!” Haille waved at me.
Judy packed leftovers into containers without asking, then pressed them into my hands like she already knew I wouldn’trefuse. “Take it,” she ordered. “So you won’t have to cook tonight.”
I nodded. “Thank you.”
