Chapter 59

Chapter 59
Chapter 59
SOPHIA

"He said what?"

"A dog! A big one that can protect us from cars." Adam's enthusiasm was back full force. "Can I name him Truck?"

"You want to name a dog Truck?"

"Yeah! Because trucks are cool and dogs are cool, so a dog named Truck would be super cool."

I laughed despite myself. "We'll see. Let's get you home and healthy first, then we can talk about dogs named Truck."

We colored until Adam's dinner arrived, and I helped him eat even though he could mostly manage himself now. The nurses had been working with him on regaining fine motor skills, and he was doing remarkably well.

"When is Papa coming?" Adam asked around a mouthful of mac and cheese.

"After work. He texted me that he'd be here around seven."

"That's so long," Adam whined.

"It's only two more hours. You can make it."

"Will you stay until he comes?"

"Of course, baby. I'm not going anywhere."

I settled into the chair beside his bed, pulling out my phone to check messages. There was one from Martha asking about Adam's furniture preferences, and I sent her photos of what I'd ordered. Another from Elizabeth asking if she could visit Adam tomorrow—I replied yes immediately, knowing Adam would love meeting his grandmother.

And one from Lucas: Board meeting ran long. Heading to hospital now. Miss you both.

My heart did that stupid flutter thing it always did when he messaged me. I typed back: We miss you too. Adam's asking for you every five minutes.

His response was immediate: Tell him Papa's coming. And tell him I'm bringing chocolate chip cookies from that bakery he mentioned wanting to try.

I smiled and relayed the message to Adam, who actually squealed with excitement.

"Papa's bringing cookies! Mama, did you hear? Papa's bringing cookies!"

"I heard, baby. That's very nice of him."

"He's the best papa ever," Adam declared with absolute certainty.

And watching Lucas walk into the room twenty minutes later, his tie loosened and his face lighting up when he saw Adam, I had to agree.

He was the best papa. The best husband. The best man I'd ever known.

And I was going to lose him eventually because I was too scared to fight for him.

The thought sat heavy in my chest as I watched Lucas and Adam together—Lucas patiently helping Adam with his physical therapy exercises, making every movement into a game, praising him enthusiastically for every small achievement. Adam soaked up the attention like a flower turning toward the sun, clearly already bonded to this man who'd appeared in his life just days ago.

"Mama, look!" Adam called. "Papa says I'm getting so strong!"

"You are, baby. I'm so proud of you."

Lucas looked up and caught my eye, and something passed between us. Something warm and significant that I couldn't quite name.

"He's incredible," Lucas said softly, moving to stand beside me while Adam showed off his ability to touch his toes. "Sophia, he's so resilient. So brave."

"He gets it from his sister," I said before I could stop myself.

Lucas's hand found mine, squeezing gently. "He gets it from his mother."

The correction made my throat tight. Because that's what I was to Adam—his mother in every way that mattered. And Lucas understood that. Respected it. Had never once suggested that our unconventional family structure was anything other than real.

"Thank you," I whispered. "For everything. For being here, for caring about him, for—"

"Sophia." He turned to face me fully. "You don't have to keep thanking me. Adam is our son now. This is what families do. They show up for each other."

Our son. The words made something in my chest crack open.

"I got him furniture today," I said, needing to change the subject before I started crying. "A whole bedroom set. Trucks and racing themes. It's being delivered Friday morning."

"Perfect timing." Lucas smiled. "I'll make sure I'm home to help set it up. We can make it a whole family project."

Family. There was that word again. He kept using it like it was real, like we were really building something permanent instead of just fulfilling the terms of a contract.

"Lucas, I—" I started, but Adam interrupted.

"Papa! Mama! Watch me stand on one foot!"

We both turned our attention to Adam, who was wobbling precariously on one leg while a nurse spotted him. We clapped and cheered when he managed to hold the position for five whole seconds, and the pride on his face was worth everything.

This was what mattered. This moment, this family, this second chance we'd all been given.

Even if it was temporary. Even if it ended with my heart in pieces. Even if I was secretly taking birth control pills to prevent the very thing that might make Lucas want to keep me forever.

It was worth it.

All of it.

For Adam's smile. For Lucas's kindness. For these stolen moments of feeling like we belonged to each other.

I'd take what I could get and be grateful.

Even if it killed me.

Especially if it killed me.

Because that's what love was. Sacrifice and silence and protecting the people you cared about from your own messy feelings.

And I loved them both too much to risk everything by demanding more than they'd agreed to give.

So I smiled and clapped and pretended my heart wasn't breaking.

Pretended I wasn't dying a little more each day.

Pretended this was enough.

Even though it would never, ever be enough.

Not even close.