“Thank you,” I whispered. “For saying that.”
Kei rubbed the back of his neck. “If you need anything, anything at all, call us. Not him. Us. We’ve got you.”
I nodded again. Tears kept coming.
They left quietly after that. Zariah stayed.
The next morning, Eleanor arrived straight from the airport, hair still perfect, eyes tired from the red-eye, but lighting up the second she saw Asher in my arms.
“Oh, my sweet boy,” she breathed, tears instant. She kissed his head, then mine. “You’re incredible, Hadley. Thank you for him.”
I smiled weakly. “He’s perfect.”
We sat together for a while...her holding him while I rested. Eventually, she handed him back and took my hand.
“Cal told me,” she said softly. “About… the conversation.”
I nodded.
She didn’t push. Just squeezed my fingers. “I won’t beg you to stay with him. You’ve been through enough. But… please. Let him see his son grow. Even if it’s from a distance at first. Even if it’s supervised visits. He’s broken right now, but that little boy is the only thing that might keep him fighting to get better.”
I looked down at Asher...peaceful, innocent. “I won’t keep him from Asher. I promise. But I can’t promise more than that.”
She kissed my cheek. “That’s enough for now.”
That evening, Cal came back.
He looked worse than the day before, eyes sunken, skin gray, clothes rumpled like he’d slept in them. But he was sober. Shaky, but sober.
He stopped just inside the door. “Can I come in?”
I nodded.
He approached slowly. “How’s he doing?”
“Eating. Sleeping. Being perfect.”
Cal exhaled like he’d been holding his breath. “Can I hold him?”
I lifted Asher carefully. Cal took him, same reverent way as before, and sank into the chair.
“Hey, little man,” he whispered. “Missed you.”
Asher blinked up at him, then yawned hugely.
Cal’s eyes filled. “I’m so sorry, Hadley. For everything.”
I didn’t answer right away. Just watched him with our son.
“Where are you planning to go?” he asked finally, voice small. “After you leave here.”
“I’m not leaving LA,” I said. “Not yet. Eli’s school is here. But I’ll probably look for an apartment. Something small. Rent for now.”
Cal’s face crumpled. “Stay in the house. Please. I’ll leave. I’ll get a place nearby. I just… I need to know where you are. Where he is. I need to know you’re safe.”
I shook my head. “No. That house holds too many memories. The nursery we painted together. The kitchen where Kei kissed me. The living room where you walked out. The bedroom where I cried myself to sleep waiting for you. I can’t live there. I can’t breathe there.”
He nodded slowly, tears slipping free. “Okay. Then let me rent you something. Anywhere you want. Gated community. Security. Whatever makes you feel safe. I’ll pay. No strings. Just… let me do this one thing right.”
