“You did good today,” I said, scratching Wayne’s ears. “Tomorrow I’m buying you a steak. No arguments.”
He thumped his tail once and trotted away happily. Once I’d confirmed that the door was locked, I wandered into the living room.
Just over the threshold, I stopped short, the scene nearly stealing my breath. The fire crackled low and steady, throwing warm light across the walls. Celine was carefully folding blankets, moving through the space like it belonged to her.
The house hadn’t felt this full in years. Or this alive.
For the first time since my parents had passed, I didn’t feel like I was trespassing in their house.
I took the blankets from her and headed upstairs. At the top, Wayne pushed past me and trotted into the guest room where Maggie and Julian were asleep on the queen-size bed.He jumped up, circling twice before curling up at their feet. Like it had always been his job.
Something in my chest loosened at the sight.
Celine hovered over them, kissing both their heads, then lingering an extra second over Julian. For several seconds, she rested her hand on his back like she was counting his breaths. Then she stood and switched the bedside lamp off. They looked so innocent. Not on guard, not scared. Just tired. Tomorrow would bring questions, reports, and hard conversations. For now, I hoped they could rest undisturbed.
In my office, Ellie was lying on the couch, her feet slung over one arm, flipping through a book. “Do you have an extra phone charger?” she asked.
“We’ll get it tomorrow,” Celine said.
Ellie sighed dramatically. Teenage sass meant she was comfortable, so I’d take it.
“I have one downstairs. I’ll grab it. Why don’t you pick out a bedroom?”
“The couch is fine.”
“Ellie. I’ve got five bedrooms. Take your pick.And Jasper’s old room has a big screen TV, along with his gaming setup.”
She was on her feet before I finished the sentence.
Smiling, Celine shuffled over to me. I wrapped my arms around her, and she leaned into me, resting her head on my chest. She wasn’t fragile. She was fierce. And tonight she’d let herself lean on me, not because she had to, but because she could.
“You did everything right.” I threaded my fingers through her hair. “You protected your kids. You trustedyourself.”
She didn’t answer, just breathed.
“You’re an incredible mom.”
“Thank you,” she whispered. “For staying. For listening.”
Wrapped around each other, my head resting on hers, we stood for several minutes, letting our hearts beat against each other. Just being still.
Loving Celine wasn’t about fixing her. It was about standing close enough that she never had to look over her shoulder alone.
“I love you,” she said.
The words settled into me. Into all the cracks and fissures in my heart. “I love you too.”
“Can we go downstairs for a minute? To talk?” she asked.
I nodded and guided her out. We peeked in on Ellie, who was splayed out on Jasper’s old bed, game controller in hand, then crept down the stairs.
In the living room, I watched the fire, giving Celine a moment to collect her thoughts.
She was pacing, her nervous energy apparent, and I didn’t want to add to the stress.
“I don’t know how to do this.” She was wearing one of my shirts, the too-long sleeves pushed up, her hair piled on top of her head.
She looked wrecked. And impossibly beautiful.