Chapter Two Hundred And Three

Chapter Two Hundred And Three


Chapter Two Hundred And Three

She turned her head slowly. He was still asleep — calm, peaceful, his hair a bit messy. The kind of peace that made her forget how much pain used to sit between them.

Carefully, she lifted his arm and slipped out of bed. She adjusted her nightgown and tiptoed toward the door. When she closed it behind her, she leaned on it for a second and let out a long breath.

She walked straight to Andy’s room. Her little boy was still asleep, his face buried half into the pillow. She smiled and bent over to kiss his forehead.

“Good morning, my love,” she whispered.

He turned slightly, mumbling something in his sleep. She smiled again and brushed her fingers through his curls. Then she started arranging his clothes — his uniform neatly folded, his shoes by the bed, ready for school.

Then she went to the kitchen. The house was quiet, the kind of quiet that made her think too much. She started making breakfast — eggs, toast, and milk for Andy.

She was focused on the pan when she suddenly felt strong arms wrap around her waist from behind. She froze.

“Adam…” she breathed out softly.

He was shirtless, his skin warm against her back. “Good morning,” he said near her ear, voice deep and soft.

Tia turned slightly, her heart beating faster. “You should put on a shirt,” she murmured.

He smiled a little. “I wanted to talk first.”

Before she could speak, he turned her gently to face him. His eyes were soft, his expression serious.

Then, without a word, he dropped to his knees right there on the kitchen floor.

Tia’s breath caught.

“Adam please.."

.

He looked up at her, eyes already filled with tears. “I’m sorry,” he said, his voice shaking. “For everything. For leaving you. For hurting you. For all those nights I wasn’t there.”

She stared at him, her lips parted.

“I don’t deserve your forgiveness,” he continued, wiping his eyes quickly, “but I need to say it. I need to let you know I regret every single thing I did.”

He reached for her hands, holding them tightly. “Please, Tia. Please forgive me.”

Tia swallowed hard, her eyes softening. “Adam,” she said quietly. “Get up.”

He shook his head. “Not until—”

“Adam, it’s okay,” she cut in gently.

He looked at her, confused.

She knelt down too, right in front of him. “I forgave you a long time ago,” she said. “I just never said it out loud.”

He blinked. “You did?”

“Yes,” she said, nodding. “I forgave you, not because what you did didn’t hurt — it did — but because I wanted to heal. I didn’t want to live with anger anymore.”

Adam’s eyes filled again. He reached out and cupped her face gently. “You’re too good for me,” he said, voice low.

Tia smiled faintly. “Maybe. But you’re still Andy’s father. And once, you were mine.”

He gave a weak laugh, then pulled her into his arms. She didn’t resist. Her arms wrapped around his neck, and for a long time, they stayed like that — no words, just the sound of their breathing.

When they finally pulled apart, Adam looked into her eyes. “Can I hold you properly now?”

She didn’t answer, just nodded.

He stood and helped her up, his hands resting on her waist. She looked up at him, and for a moment, neither moved. Then he leaned in and kissed her.

It was soft at first, almost hesitant. Then deeper, longer — the kind of kiss that felt like years of silence breaking apart.

Her hands rested on his chest. His grip on her waist tightened slightly, pulling her closer. When they finally broke apart, both were breathing quietly, faces still close.

“I missed you,” he whispered.

Tia smiled, a small blush rising on her cheeks. “You should go wear a shirt before Andy sees you.”

Adam chuckled. “Jealous already?”

“Of course not,” she said, turning back to the counter, trying to hide her smile.

He moved behind her again, his arms circling her waist as she cooked. “You still smell the same,” he murmured. “Daisy and home.”

“Adam…” she warned softly, but there was a smile in her voice.

He kissed her shoulder lightly. “I love you.”

Her hand froze for a second. Then she turned slightly to face him. “You don’t have to say that because of guilt.”

“I’m saying it because it’s true,” he said, looking straight into her eyes. “I never stopped. Not for a single day.”

She stared at him quietly. Then she smiled faintly and said, “Then prove it by helping me with breakfast.”

He grinned. “Yes, ma’am.”

They worked side by side — Adam flipping the eggs, Tia buttering the toast. He wasn’t very good at it, but she didn’t complain. Every few seconds, he found a way to touch her — brushing her arm, holding her waist, or tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

At one point, he turned her around again, his hands still on her waist. “You know,” he said, smiling, “this feels like old times.”

Tia looked up at him. “Only better,” she said softly.

He smiled. “You’re right.”

He leaned in again and kissed her, slower this time. Her hands went up to his neck, pulling him closer.

When they pulled apart, Tia laughed quietly. “You’re supposed to be helping, not distracting.”

“Who says I can’t do both?” he teased.

She rolled her eyes but couldn’t stop smiling. “You’ll make us burn breakfast.”

“Then we’ll eat burnt toast together,” he said, kissing her cheek.

“Adam!” she said, laughing, trying to push him off.

He grinned and held her tighter. “You missed me.”

“Maybe a little,” she said.

He raised a brow. “Only a little?”

She smiled and looked down. “Don’t get too confident.”

He chuckled, his forehead brushing hers. “Too late.”

The kitchen filled with warmth — laughter, the sound of pans, the smell of toast. It didn’t feel like the same house anymore. It felt alive again.

After a while, Adam reached for two plates. “For Andy,” he said.

Tia nodded. “He’ll wake up soon.”

“Then let’s make it a good morning for him,” Adam said.

She looked at him, really looked at him this time. “You’ve changed,” she said softly.

He smiled. “No. I just remembered what I almost lost.”

Before she could reply, a small voice came from behind them. “Mommy? Daddy?”

They turned. Andy stood at the doorway, rubbing his eyes, his hair sticking up.

“You both didn’t come to wake me,” he said, yawning.

Tia smiled and wiped her hands. “Good morning, baby.”

Adam walked to him and bent down, lifting him up easily. “Sorry, champ. We were just making breakfast.”

Andy blinked at both of them, then smiled sleepily. “You both look happy.”

Tia laughed softly. “We are, sweetheart.”

Adam kissed Andy’s cheek. “Mommy made your favorite eggs.”

Andy looked over Adam’s shoulder. “And toast?”

“Of course,” Tia said. “Now go brush your teeth.”

Andy nodded and ran off, his small feet pattering down the hall.

Adam turned back to Tia. “He’s growing fast.”

She smiled. “Yeah. He missed you.”

Adam looked down for a moment, then back up. “I’m not leaving again, Tia.”

She looked at him quietly, then nodded. “Good. Because we’re not breaking again either.”

He smiled and pulled her close one last time, his hands resting on her waist. She looked up at him, eyes soft.

He whispered, “I love you.”

She smiled, her voice gentle. “I know.”

He kissed her again, slow and warm, right before Andy’s voice echoed from the hallway.

“Mommy! Daddy! I’m ready!”

They both laughed quietly, still holding each other.

Adam whispered near her ear, “Guess we better feed our boss.”

Tia c
huckled. “Yeah.”

They pulled apart and began setting the table together. Adam placed Andy’s plate in front of his chair, and Tia poured the milk.

When Andy ran in, they all sat down. Adam reached across the table and took Tia’s hand under it. She didn’t pull away.

It wasn’t perfect. But it was theirs.

And for the first time in a long time, it felt like family again.