Chapter 18

Emma got serious. "He's watching you to make sure you don't make Mom sad again. He said people can get another chance, but they have to earn it by changing, not just talking."

"That's fair."

"And he said that if you hurt Mom or me again, he'd make sure you couldn't find us, even if he had to take us to another world." Emma was calm when she said this. "I don't think he was kidding."

I had to smile, even though I knew Lucas was serious.

"I wouldn't blame him. You and Mom are the most important people."

Emma smiled and went back to her drawing. I looked at this kid who knew so much about families.

"Dad, can I tell you something that might be hard?"

"Yes, sweetie."

"I think the reason Mom won't let herself love you again isn't because she doesn't want to. I think it's because she's scared that if she loves you and you leave again, it would hurt so much that she couldn't take care of me well."

That hit hard. Bella wasn't just saving herself—she was saving Emma from a mom who might fall apart.

"So Mom is being strong for you?"

"Mom is always being strong for me. Even when she's sad or scared or tired, she makes me feel safe and loved. But I think maybe she's too strong now, like she just doesn't know it's okay to let people help."

My daughter was right. Bella was so good at it that she forgot about being open to help.

"Emma, what do you think would help Mom know that it's okay to let people take care of her?"

She thought about it, adding to her drawing. "I think you have to show her, not say it. Like, maybe help with small things without asking. And don't make it about you wanting to help—just do what she needs."

"Can you give me an example?"

"Like, Mom always makes my lunch in the morning, but she's getting ready for work too. Maybe you could make it sometimes so she can have more time for coffee. She likes her morning coffee, but she drinks it fast because she's busy."

She knew her mom well. She was giving me the way to care for her.

"That's great."

"And maybe you could learn to do hair so Mom doesn't have to do mine. She tries, but she's not good at it, and she gets mad when it doesn't go well."

Another thing that would show I was paying attention.

"I would love to learn to do your hair."

Emma smiled. "Really? I have videos that teach. We could practice!"

"Deal."

She finished her drawing and showed it to me. It was us, but not just happy. It was real. The parents were careful, but wanted things to be better too, and the kid was in the middle, holding the parents together in the picture.

"What do you think?" she asked.

"I think it's the most real picture of our family ever."

Emma smiled. "I want to give it to Mom tonight after dinner. But first, I have one more question."

"What's that?"

She looked at me with dark eyes like Bella's, full of hope and a little scared.

"Dad, if you and Mom both learned and you both love each other and you both want me to be happy, why can't you just decide to love each other again?"

That hit me. Why couldn't we just decide?

"That's the most important question ever," I said. "And I think the answer is that grown-ups make love too hard because we're scared."

Emma nodded. "So you need to be gutsy, like the princesses in my books who save themselves?"

"Yeah, sweetie. Mommy and I both need to try again, even if we get hurt."

"Well," Emma said, "I think you should start tomorrow. Because I'm tired of having two parents who love each other but don't talk about it. It's not a good way."

She said it made me laugh, even though it was serious.

"You're right. It isn't a good way."

"And Dad? When you do tell Mom you love her, do it when I'm not here. Grown-ups need time for talks."

This kid was giving me advice.

"How do you know about that?"

"I read about it in a brain book. It said kids shouldn't be part of the emotional stuff, and parents need space."

She knew the roles we all needed to play.

"Emma, you're really amazing."

"Thanks. I got it from my family." She said it sure, then looked at me. "But Dad, you should know that tomorrow Mom has a meeting with people who want to buy her company. She's scared because it's a big day. Maybe you could make her a good breakfast and tell her she'll be good."

Even when giving me advice on feelings, Emma was thinking about her mom's needs.

"I'll make her breakfast."

"Good. And Dad?"

"Yes?"

"I love you. Even if you and Mom can't, I love you right now."

Her love got to me. She'd never had me, but she loved me.

"I love you too, Emma. So much."

We sat in her sunny room, with her pictures all around, and I knew she just gave me the things I needed to win Bella back.

It wasn't about big things. It was about showing up, seeing what she needed, helping, and having the nerve to be open about feels.

Emma had seen Bella for five years, knowing her needs and fears. Now she was sharing it, giving me the tools to love Bella the way she should be loved.

The deal was, was I gutsy enough to save myself by loving Bella?

Looking at my daughter, I knew I had to be. Emma deserved parents who fought for the family she needed.

"I will be brave, starting tomorrow.”