His Wife, His Mistake
Chapter Twenty-Two: They Still Love Each Other
POV: Liam
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I wasn't trying to listen.
Really, I wasn't.
But I had left my sketchbook in the gallery — the one with the superhero I drew that had Mummy's eyes and Daddy's smile.
When I opened the front door, the "closed" sign was already flipped, and I almost called out…
Until I heard voices.
Their voices.
Mummy's and Daddy's.
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I froze.
Their tones weren't loud.
No yelling. No slamming. No crying.
Just… soft.
Quiet like a secret.
I tiptoed closer and stood behind the corner where the plants covered part of the wall.
Their words drifted toward me like little pieces of something I'd never dared to hope for.
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"I'm not asking for everything right away," Daddy said. His voice sounded tired, but kind. "Just a piece of you. The part that still believes in us."
Mummy sighed. "I'm scared, Damon. I don't want Liam to get his hopes up."
My heart skipped.
Me?
I pressed my hand over my mouth.
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"He already hopes, Arya," Daddy said. "You think he doesn't see everything?"
There was a pause.
"He's a smart kid. He watches. He feels. Just like you."
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I smiled a little.
Because I did watch.
I watched every time Mummy stared out the window longer than usual.
Every time Daddy's car slowed outside the shop, even when he didn't come in.
Every flower. Every book. Every look.
I watched it all.
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And maybe, just maybe, they were starting to see it too.
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"I kissed you last night," Daddy said suddenly.
I almost gasped — but held it in.
"I remember," Mummy said, voice lower.
"And you kissed me back."
"Don't twist that into a promise, Damon," she warned. "It's not."
"I know. I'm just saying… it meant something."
Another silence.
Then, Mummy whispered, "It did."
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I smiled so big it hurt.
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"I just don't want Liam confused," she added quickly. "He's already had so many questions I didn't know how to answer."
"Then let me be the one to answer them," Daddy said. "I missed his first steps, his first words. I don't want to miss any more. Not even the hard conversations."
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That's when I heard Mummy sniffle. A soft sound. Like when she tries not to cry.
"I don't want him to get hurt again," she said.
"And I don't want to hurt you again," Daddy replied. "But if you let me stay… I swear I'll never stop trying to make up for the past."
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My heart beat so fast.
Were they really talking like this?
Like they were still a team?
Like… maybe, someday, we could be together again?
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"Do you still love me?" Daddy asked.
I leaned in without meaning to.
Mummy didn't answer right away.
When she finally did, it was almost too soft to hear.
"Yes," she said. "But love isn't always enough."
"It's a start," Daddy whispered. "And I'll take it."
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I clutched my sketchbook against my chest.
I didn't move.
Didn't breathe.
Didn't even blink.
This was the kind of moment I'd dreamed of, but never expected to happen for real.
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Then Mummy said something that made my whole chest warm.
"Do you want to come to dinner tonight?"
My eyes widened.
"Nothing serious. Just… sit at the table. With Liam."
Daddy's voice broke. "You sure?"
"I think it's time he sees what trying looks like."
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I almost dropped my sketchbook in excitement.
Dinner.
Together.
Like a family.
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"I'll bring dessert," Daddy said, voice lighter. "Liam still likes those caramel squares, right?"
"He never stopped."
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They were quiet for a while after that.
I slowly stepped back, heart pounding like a drum.
They were trying.
They weren't fighting.
They weren't walking away.
They were trying.
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When I walked back home that night, I pretended like I didn't hear anything.
Like I hadn't seen anything.
But inside me, something bloomed.
A new hope.
A small spark.
Something warm.
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That night, Mummy called me to set the table.
"Three plates?" I asked, grinning up at her.
She smiled softly. "We're having a guest."
"A guest," I repeated, trying not to smile too wide. "Cool."
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When Daddy showed up, he didn't dress fancy or bring flowers.
He just brought the caramel squares — and a look in his eyes I'd never seen before.
Peaceful.
Humble.
Hopeful.
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He helped me open the juice.
He laughed at one of my jokes.
He didn't even look at Mummy too much — like he was giving her space.
But the way she looked at him?
Like maybe her heart didn't hurt as much tonight.
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We ate together.
And I didn't say anything.
I just watched.
Because I didn't want to break the spell.
Because sometimes, when things are finally good again, you don't want to talk too much.
You just want to feel it.
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After dinner, as Daddy helped clear the plates, I watched Mummy from the hallway.
She was smiling again.
Not forced.
Not tired.
Real.
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And I knew.
I just knew.
They still loved each other.
And maybe…
Just maybe…
That was enough to begin again.
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