ely slept

alf-stacked, and Liam's toys scat

n out the memory of Noah's gaze - th

e sat by the window, staring into the d

that he would be

ething? Livi

tried to r

she wouldn't think

toni

tomo

ev

ng came, fate

-

the kind of sticky summer heat that cl

box, trying to juggle it and keep

until it pulled up alongside

fened in

iver's seat, slamming the

eans, his hair still messy from the heat

had five years ago - stronger, rougher

ng at her like she was the

g to adjust Liam's sho

gravel under his boots a

an it should have - like a

ed slowly, lif

nt pretending sh

d, voice rougher t

rolled. D

breathed, he

od there, words clawing at

lly, his mouth a hard line. "Didn't t

naged, wishing her v

dn't

even

mall boy clutching her hand

out at him

tire body stiffen, li

aw ti

worked in

ooked - and the betrayal she feared w

kid," he sai

ed her mout

narrowed. "H

what he was thinking. She k

she wh

le

Suffo

een them cra

urled into fis

ng on telling me?" he a

fighting to keep her voice steady. "

ort, sharp, humorless. "You didn't

d on Ameli

he mumbled, burying

him up, shielding him from t

side, baby," she murmured,

was still staring - not at

e little boy

eyes he kn

reath, dragging a h

"You left without saying goodbye. Without letting me

ung Amel

whispered. "You had dreams, Noah. You were

give me the choic

like he had

, stepping back, raking a h

sion to make alone," h

, fighting back the sob

the time I realized... everything ju

r a fraction of a secon

muttered, "welc

ing back toward his tru

o, her heart splinte

under her chin, sensi

d him t

ispered into his ha

carried her

-

of the kitchen, Amelia sat on the back porc

uilding a dinosaur fortres

and tried to breathe throug

ery right t

s from him - five years

ever fo

even forgi

crowed proudly, ho

smiled

amazing,

ure, bright, a bal

e had made, Liam was

face her past - no m

o find a way to piece back toge

with Noah

even give he

-