PART 13:

Your ex-wife would disagree. Daniel’s jaw tightened. Miranda doesn’t get a vote in this. She does if she makes good on those threats. My lawyer called back this morning, said without evidence of actual harm or neglect, Miranda has no grounds for a custody challenge. The accidental like and some coffee dates don’t constitute harm.

And if she manufactures evidence? Then we deal with it. But I’m not making decisions based on what Miranda might do. I spent my entire marriage doing that. I’m done. Ariana stopped walking, turned to face him. You’re sure? Because once we’re actually doing this, it gets harder to walk away. I don’t want to walk away.

Even knowing it’ll be messy? Especially knowing that. I’m tired of safe. Safe got me nowhere. Something shifted in Ariana’s expression. Okay, then. Okay? Okay. We’re doing this. Actually doing this. Yeah, we are. Sophie’s voice rang out across the playground. Dad, Ariana, come see. The slide is almost dry. They walked toward her together, not quite touching, but close enough that their hands brushed occasionally.

Each time it happened, Daniel felt it like electricity. Sophie made them watch her go down the slide 17 times, then the swings, then the monkey bars, which she couldn’t quite complete, but was determined to master. You can do it, Ariana called. One more bar. My hands are tired. So, rest for a minute, then try again.

Sophie dropped to the ground, shaking out her hands. Do you know how to do monkey bars? Haven’t tried in about 20 years. You should try now. I’m wearing nice clothes. So, they’re just clothes. Ariana looked at Daniel. He shrugged, grinning. She’s got a point. You’re not helping. Never said I would. Ariana sighed dramatically, then approached the monkey bars.

She made it three rungs before her hand slipped. She landed in the mulch, laughing. See? Sophie said. It’s hard. It really is. How do you make it so far? Practice, and I’m lighter than you. Also a valid point. They spent another hour at the playground. Daniel pushed Sophie on the swings while Ariana attempted the monkey bars twice more, failing both times, but laughing each time she fell.

When Sophie finally declared herself exhausted, they walked back to the parking lot slowly, Sophie between them, holding both their hands. Can Ariana come over? Sophie asked as they reached the cars. Bug, she probably has things to do. I don’t, actually, Ariana said. If the invitation’s open. Sophie looked up at Daniel.

Can she, Dad? Please? He looked at Ariana. She looked back, expression neutral, but eyes hopeful. Yeah, he said. She can. The drive back to the apartment felt surreal. Daniel kept glancing in the rearview mirror, watching Ariana’s car following them, trying to process that this was happening, that he was bringing her to his home, letting her further into his life.

Their apartment looked especially small when they walked in. Worn furniture, scuffed floors, Sophie’s drawings covering every available surface. Nothing like the spaces Ariana was probably used to, but she didn’t seem to notice. She looked around with genuine interest, pausing at Sophie’s space drawings on the fridge.

Did you make all of these? Most of them. Some are from school. They’re really good. You’ve got the planet sizes pretty accurate. I looked them up. Jupiter is way bigger than Earth, like way way bigger. Did you know there’s a storm on Jupiter that’s been going for hundreds of years? It’s called the Great Red Spot.

Sophie’s eyes went wide. A storm for hundreds of years? At least, maybe thousands. No one knows exactly when it started. That’s so cool. Dad, did you know that? I did not know that. Ariana knows more about space than you do. Apparently so. Sophie grabbed Ariana’s hand. Come see my room.

I have glow-in-the-dark stars on my ceiling. She dragged Ariana down the hallway. Daniel stood in the kitchen listening to their voices. Sophie explaining each constellation placement with scientific precision she’d clearly memorized. His phone buzzed. Miranda. We need to talk. Call me. He deleted the message without responding. Whatever she wanted could wait.

Ariana emerged from Sophie’s room 10 minutes later smiling. She’s giving her stuffed animals a lecture about planetary formation. That sounds about right. Your daughter is brilliant. She’s something. They stood in the kitchen suddenly aware they were alone. The apartment felt smaller, more intimate. Coffee? Daniel offered.

Fair warning, it’s nowhere near as good as Momentum’s. I’ll risk it. He made coffee while she leaned against the counter watching him. The silence wasn’t uncomfortable exactly, but it was charged with things unsaid. So, Ariana said finally. We’re doing this. Seems like it. Your daughter approves. She does. That’s terrifying in its own way.

Why terrifying? Because if this doesn’t work out, I’m not the only one who gets hurt. Ariana was quiet for a moment. We could stop now before Sophie gets more attached. Is that what you want? No, but I want to make sure you’ve thought it through. All the implications. Daniel handed her a mug. I’ve thought about nothing else for days.

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