True to his word, he arrived the next morning with cookies and toys, knocking on the front door instead of slipping in quietly. Introducing him to the kids was emotional—Jeremy recognized him from photos, and Sophie stared with wide curiosity—but soon they were building Lego rockets on the living-room floor. Over the next few days, he helped with school runs, lunches, homework, and bedtime routines, all while I watched cautiously. I’m not pretending everything is magically fixed; we’re not the same people we once were. But the kids have their father back, and I have someone willing to share the load. We’re not rebuilding the past—we’re trying to build something steadier, healthier, and honest. The future is uncertain, but we’re taking small steps forward, and sometimes, that’s enough.
