The call came just after lunch.
Ethan was standing at the sink, rinsing a mug, when his phone buzzed against the counter. He glanced at the screen, and something in his posture changed—his shoulders drawing in, his jaw tightening as if bracing for impact.
Bella noticed immediately.
"Is everything okay?" she asked, closing her laptop.
Ethan didn't answer right away. He stared at the phone for a long second longer than necessary before answering. "Hello?"
Bella couldn't hear the voice on the other end, but she could tell from Ethan's expression that it wasn't casual. His eyes narrowed slightly, then softened, then hardened again in quick succession.
"Yes," he said. "I got your message."
Bella stood, moving closer without interrupting.
"I told you," Ethan continued carefully, "this isn't something Lily can process without preparation."
There was a pause.
"No," he said firmly. "I'm not trying to control anything. I'm trying to protect her."
Bella's chest tightened.
"Yes," Ethan said again. "Tomorrow afternoon. The café on Main."
He ended the call and set the phone down slowly, as if it were something fragile.
Bella waited.
"She's coming," Ethan said quietly. "Tomorrow."
Bella nodded, even though her stomach twisted. "To see Lily?"
"Yes." He rubbed the back of his neck. "She says she's ready now."
"And you?" Bella asked gently.
"I don't know if I ever will be," he admitted.
They stood in silence for a moment, the weight of the past pressing into the present.
"Do you want me to step back?" Bella asked, her voice calm even though her heart raced. "I don't want to complicate things."
Ethan turned to her immediately. "No."
The word came out sharper than he intended. He exhaled. "No. I want you here. I just… don't know how to balance this yet."
Bella nodded slowly. "Then we take it one step at a time."
He searched her face. "You don't have to be brave about this."
"I know," she said. "But I want to be."
⸻
Lily sensed it before anyone said a word.
She grew quieter that evening, her questions tentative. She watched Ethan closely, eyes flicking between him and Bella as if measuring something invisible.
"Daddy," she said softly during dinner. "Are you sad?"
Ethan stilled. "Why do you ask that?"
"Because you're doing the quiet face," Lily replied.
Bella swallowed.
Ethan set his fork down. "I'm not sad, peanut. Just thinking."
"About Mommy?" Lily asked, voice small.
The room went still.
Ethan took a breath, then nodded. "Yes."
Lily's shoulders drew in. "Is she coming back?"
"She's coming to visit," he said carefully. "To talk."
Lily's gaze slid to Bella.
Bella forced a gentle smile, even as her heart clenched. "That's okay," she said softly. "Talking is good."
Lily nodded slowly, absorbing it. "Will you still be here?" she asked Bella.
The question wasn't innocent.
It was everything.
Bella met Ethan's eyes for a brief second, then looked back at Lily. "Yes," she said firmly. "I'm still here."
Lily exhaled, relief visible.
That night, after Lily went to bed, Bella sat on the couch while Ethan paced the length of the living room.
"I don't want her thinking people come and go," he said. "I don't want to mess this up."
"You won't," Bella said gently. "But you also can't control how everyone feels."
Ethan stopped pacing. "What if Lily hopes for something that can't happen?"
Bella's voice softened. "Then we help her understand. Together."
Ethan looked at her then—really looked—and something vulnerable crossed his face.
"You're doing this better than I am," he admitted.
Bella shook her head. "I'm just choosing not to run."
⸻
The café on Main Street was warm and bright, sunlight streaming through the windows and reflecting off polished wood tables.
Ethan arrived early with Lily, his hand resting protectively on her shoulder. Bella followed a few steps behind, unsure of where she fit in this moment—but unwilling to disappear.
When the door opened and Claire walked in, Ethan stiffened.
She looked different from the woman Bella had imagined—softer, more hesitant. Her hair was pulled back simply, her coat worn at the edges. She stopped short when she saw Lily.
"Oh," Claire breathed. "You've grown."
Lily didn't move.
Ethan cleared his throat. "Claire."
Claire's gaze flicked to Bella, curiosity and uncertainty flashing briefly across her face. "You must be—"
"Bella," Bella said calmly. "It's nice to meet you."
Claire nodded, then looked back at Lily. "Hi, sweetheart."
Lily glanced at Ethan before answering. "Hi."
They sat.
The conversation was careful at first—about the town, about school, about small things that avoided the real reason they were there.
Finally, Claire spoke. "I know I can't change what I did," she said quietly. "But I want to try to be part of Lily's life again."
Ethan's jaw tightened. "Trying means consistency."
"I know," Claire said. "I wasn't ready before. I am now."
Lily's fingers twisted in her lap. "Why didn't you come before?"
The question landed hard.
Claire swallowed. "Because I was scared. And because I didn't know how to be the mom you needed."
Lily's eyes filled. "I needed you."
Bella's chest ached.
Ethan reached for Lily's hand. "Peanut—"
"I know," Lily said quickly, brushing her eyes. "I just… didn't understand."
Claire's voice broke. "I'm sorry."
The silence that followed was heavy, but honest.
After a while, Ethan stood. "That's enough for today."
Claire nodded. "I understand."
As they left, Claire paused near Bella. "Thank you," she said quietly. "For being kind to my daughter."
Bella met her gaze steadily. "She deserves kindness."
⸻
The walk home was quiet.
Lily didn't speak until they reached the cabin.
"Daddy?" she asked.
"Yes?"
"Mommy didn't stay."
"No," he said gently. "But she talked. That's a start."
Lily nodded, then looked at Bella. "You stayed."
Bella crouched in front of her. "I did."
Lily wrapped her arms around Bella's neck tightly.
Ethan turned away for a moment, emotion flickering across his face.
That night, after Lily was asleep, Ethan sat beside Bella on the couch.
"I don't know how to do this," he said quietly.
Bella rested her head against his shoulder. "You're doing it."
He sighed. "I don't want to lose what we're building."
"You won't," she said. "But it won't always be easy."
He turned to her. "I need to know something."
"Yes?"
"You won't disappear when things get complicated?"
Bella met his gaze. "Not unless you ask me to."
He leaned in, pressing his forehead to hers. "Then I'm all in."
This kiss wasn't tentative.
It was grounding.
Outside, the past lingered—but inside the cabin, something stronger held its ground.
They weren't pretending anymore.
They were choosing.