PART 8:

“Lunch sounds good,” Lena decided. Evan’s house was a 15-minute drive from the aquarium, a small craftsman in a quiet neighborhood. The yard was slightly overgrown, but there were flowers in the beds and a swing set in the back. It looked lived in and loved. Inside was organized chaos. Toys and bins, children’s artwork on the fridge, shoes by the door.

It looked nothing like Lena’s carefully controlled apartment, and everything like a real home. Sorry about the mess, Evan said, scooping up a pile of Sophie’s drawings from the couch. “It’s perfect,” Lena said, and meant it. Sophie immediately took Ma upstairs to show her the playroom. Lena listened to their footsteps overhead, the sound of laughter and toys being dumped out.

They’re going to destroy that room, Evan said cheerfully. But that’s what it’s for. Can I get you something to drink? Coffee, tea, water, wine. Wine sounds dangerous this early. Coffee it is. Evan led her to the kitchen, which was small but sunny with windows overlooking the backyard.

I was thinking grilled cheese and tomato soup for lunch. Very gourmet. Maya’s favorite meal. Sophie’s, too. Apparently, I’m raising a future food critic with very sophisticated tastes. Lena set the tart on the counter, suddenly self-conscious. I made this. It’s probably too much. Evan lifted the cover and his eyes widened. Lena, this is gorgeous.

Did Did you really make this? It’s just a tart. It’s art. He met her eyes serious now, saying, “Thank you for this, for coming here, for trusting me with your daughter. Thank you for making it easy to trust you. They stood there in his kitchen, the sound of children playing upstairs, and Lena felt something shift inside her.

This wasn’t just attraction or the excitement of new romance. This was deeper, more fundamental. This was the feeling of puzzle pieces sliding into place. Evan reached out, tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. Can I kiss you? Lena’s heart hammered. The girls are upstairs and completely occupied. His thumb traced her cheek.

“But if you’re not ready, that’s okay, too.” “I’m ready,” Lena breathed. The kiss was soft, tentative, a question more than a statement. Evan’s hands came up to frame her face, gentle and careful, like she was something precious. Lena melted into it, her hands gripping his sweater, pulling him closer. When they broke apart, they were both breathing hard.

“Wow,” Evan whispered. “Yeah,” Lena agreed. A crash from upstairs made them both jump. Sophie, came Maya’s delighted shriek, followed by giggles. Evan closed his eyes. I should probably check on that. Probably, but neither of them moved for a long moment, foreheads pressed together, savoring the small pocket of peace before returning to the chaos of parenting.

Upstairs, they found the girls surrounded by every toy Sophie owned, building what appeared to be a fortress out of blocks and stuffed animals. The crash had been a tower falling. Nothing serious. “Having fun?” Evan asked. “Daddy, we’re making a castle for the dinosaurs,” Sophie announced. “I can see that. It’s very impressive.

” Maya held up a plastic stegosaurus. Him lives here. “Very nice. Who’s hungry for lunch?” Both girls abandoned their construction project immediately, thundering down the stairs with the enthusiasm only children could muster. Lena and Evan followed more slowly. Lunch was exactly as chaotic and perfect as Lena had expected.

Maya and Sophie sat next to each other, giggling and dipping their sandwiches in soup with varying degrees of success. Evan kept the conversation light, telling stories about his students that had the girls laughing. After they ate, Lena brought out the tart. Sophie’s eyes went huge. “Can we really eat that? It’s too pretty.

” “Pretty things are meant to be enjoyed,” Lena said, cutting slices. The tart was a hit. Maya got berries all over her face, and Sophie declared it the best dessert she’d ever had. Evan caught Lena’s eye across the table and mouthed, “Thank you.” After lunch, while the girls played in the living room, Evan and Lena cleaned up together.

“It felt domestic and comfortable, their movement synchronized in the small space.” “This was really nice,” Evan said, drying a dish. “Having you both here.” “It was,” Lena agreed. She wanted to say more, wanted to tell him how much this meant to her, but the words stuck in her throat. “Mama,” Maya’s voice called from the living room. “Come see.

” They returned to find the girls had transformed the couch cushions into a elaborate obstacle course. “Very impressive,” Lena said. “Did Sophie help you build this?” “I helped,” Sophie confirmed proudly. “Maya’s really good at ideas.” The afternoon slipped away in a haze of play and laughter.

The girls moved from the obstacle course to coloring to a very dramatic puppet show performed with stuffed animals. Lena and Evan sat on the floor watching and occasionally being recruited as audience members. Around 4:00, Ma started to get fussy, a sure sign that exhaustion was setting in. “I should probably get her home,” Lena said reluctantly.

“Someone needs a nap before she turns into a complete gremlin. I don’t want to go, Maya whined. I don’t want them to go either, Sophie said, looking at her father with pleading eyes. Evan looked at Lena, raising his eyebrows in question. How about this? Lena suggested. We go home now, but we make plans to see each other again soon.

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