Months passed.
Jacob’s cancer went into remission.
Every Saturday, Ethan picked him up from Grace’s new apartment. He bought it for her but never used it as leverage. They went to science museums, comic book shops, and even hosted tea parties with stuffed animals.
Ethan resigned as CEO and launched a foundation for pediatric cancer in Jacob’s name.
One afternoon, after Jacob had fallen asleep in the backseat of Ethan’s car, Grace looked over.
“You’ve changed,” she said simply.
“You helped me see what mattered.”
He hesitated. “I want more, Grace. Not just weekends. Not just visits.”
She looked away.
“I want the tantrums, the giggles, the nightmares, the scraped knees. I want to be there when he graduates kindergarten. I want to be there when he loses his first tooth.”
He paused.
“And I want to be there for you too.”
Her eyes welled up—but she didn’t cry.
“You’re not the same man I left,” she whispered.
“I don’t want to be.”
She smiled.
“Then keep showing up. Every day.”
