Chapter 36

• CAL’S POV
• A profound stillness had settled over the house, a blanket of quietude woven from the threads of a shared evening. Jessie and I moved through the aftermath of dinner in a comfortable, unspoken rhythm, the clinking of dishes and the soft swish of the dishcloth a gentle counterpoint to the lingering echoes of our earlier conversation. It felt significant, this shared task, this unhurried clearing away. For the first time in what felt like an eternity—six years, to be precise—the air between us felt breathable, not thick with unspoken resentments or the weight of separate lives. We weren't just occupying the same space; we were truly present with each other, seeing past the carefully constructed walls we’d both erected.
• The twins, our whirlwind of sugar-fueled energy and unbridled joy, were finally subdued, tucked away in the guest room, their small bodies surrendered to the deep slumber of exhaustion. A wave of tenderness washed over me just thinking about their infectious laughter and the way their eyes had lit up throughout the day. They were a tangible link to Jessie, a constant reminder of the life we had built and then allowed to fracture.