Ric reached out and took Cammy's hand again, this time holding it firmly, grounding her to the moment. His thumb brushed soothing circles over her knuckles, his voice soft but unwavering.
"Alright," he said after a long pause. "We'll stay here, Cammy. Just until we get Dylan's custody back."
Cammy's lips parted, stunned by how easily he agreed. She searched his face, expecting to see reluctance—but there was none. Only quiet understanding.
"But after that," Ric continued, his voice filled with a warmth that wrapped around her battered heart, "once everything is settled... we'll find a real home. A real house. One with a huge backyard where Dylan and… the baby can run around. Somewhere that's ours. Somewhere that feels like a new start."
A lump rose in Cammy's throat at his words, and she had to look down to hide the tears that welled in her eyes. A new start. The idea sounded so simple when Ric said it—but it terrified her all the same.
