Chapter 47: The schedule

Okay," Emily said, tapping the paper on the table. "So Mondays and Tuesdays you’ve got him. Wednesdays we swap. Weekends we alternate?"

Ethan nodded, but he wasn’t looking at the schedule. He was looking at her. "You sure this works for you? With the studio?"

"It works," Emily said. "If it doesn’t, we change it. Rule 4."

"Rule 4," Ethan echoed. He reached over and circled 'Friday dinner' with the pen. "This stays though. All of us. No matter what."

"Deal," Emily said.

From the living room: "Are you guys done with the boring paper?"

Liam ran in and flopped between them. "Can we do pizza tonight? For the first official schedule night?"

Ethan ruffled his hair. "Pizza. Burnt. Extra special."

"Yes!" Liam cheered.

That night the apartment smelled like tomato sauce and cardboard.

"This is good," Ethan said, holding up a slice. "I’m improving."

"You’re still burning it," Emily said.

"I’m improving," Ethan repeated.

Liam grinned with cheese on his face. "Best schedule ever."

After bedtime, Emily found Ethan on the balcony. He had two glasses of water.

"First night done," he said, handing her one.

"First night done," Emily said.

They stood there. No big talk. Just the city noise.

"You nervous?" Ethan asked.

"Terrified," Emily said. "You?"

"Also terrified," Ethan said. "But good terrified."

Emily bumped his shoulder. "We’re really doing this."

"We’re really doing this," Ethan said.

The next week tested it.

Tuesday: Emily had a factory call that ran late. Ethan texted: Got it. I’ll do bath.

Wednesday: Ethan had a board dinner. Emily texted: Go. I’ve got him. I’ll save you leftovers.

Thursday: Liam had a fever again.

Emily called at 2pm. "I can leave."

"I’m already on my way," Ethan said. "Stay. Finish the meeting."

When she got home, Ethan was on the couch with Liam under a blanket, reading dinosaur books.

"Hey," Emily said.

"Hey," Ethan said. "He’s 99.1. Ate soup. Wants you."

Emily sat on the floor and Liam immediately rolled into her lap.

"Thanks," she whispered to Ethan.

"Rule 4," he said.

By Friday, they were both wrecked.

Dinner was at Emily’s. Takeout. Again.

Liam was asleep by 8.

Emily and Ethan collapsed on the couch.

"Rule 7," Emily said.

Ethan groaned but smiled. "Fine. Good: The schedule didn’t kill us. Hard: I’m so tired. Better: You’re tired with me."

Emily laughed. "Good: Liam’s happy. Hard: I miss having time to breathe. Better: I don’t miss doing it alone."

Ethan took her hand. "We can adjust. If it’s too much."

"It’s not too much," Emily said. "It’s just... new."

"New is okay," Ethan said. "New means we’re trying."

Emily leaned her head on his shoulder. "Do you think we’re good at this?"

Ethan was quiet. "I think we’re trying to be good. Every day. That counts."

Emily nodded. "Yeah. It counts."

Sunday came. Pancakes.

Liam stood on a chair stirring batter. "Family meeting!"

"What’s the agenda?" Ethan asked.

Liam was very serious. "The agenda is we’re the best team."

Emily and Ethan looked at each other over his head.

"We are," Emily said.

"We are," Ethan said.

Later, when Liam was watching cartoons, Emily pulled out her phone.

Tokyo had replied. They agreed to the remote terms.

She showed Ethan.

He read it and whistled. "You did that."

"We did that," Emily corrected.

Ethan pulled her in and kissed her forehead. "I’m proud of you, Hart."

"I’m proud of us, Blake," Emily said.

No big declarations. No fireworks.

Just two mugs on the counter. One toothbrush that had moved into the cup holder for good.

A drawing on the fridge.

And a schedule on the table with pizza stains on it.

Outside it was loud.

Inside, it was theirs.