“A… surprise party?”
Relief flooded me, followed by guilt. I had been imagining shadows where there were none.
“Richard, I’m so sorry,” I whispered.
He squeezed my hand. “It’s okay. We’re all adjusting. And Jennifer’s still learning to trust.”
The next morning, I watched as he patiently helped Jennifer pour cereal. She hesitated, still wary, but when she glanced at me and then back at him, something shifted.
A small, tentative smile spread across her face.
And in that fragile moment, I knew we were on the right path—one careful step at a time, building trust, building family.
