Chapter 31: Living Arrangements

The drive home from the hospital was way different than the mad dash we'd made six hours before. Emma was out like a light in her car seat; her new meds were already helping with the pain. Mikel and I sat up front, trying to sort out Dr. Chen's instructions.

"Every four hours," I mumbled, checking the med schedule on my phone. "Even through the night."

"I'll do the night shifts," Mikel said right away. "You've been doing this on your own for weeks. You need to sleep."

I glanced at him in the dim light, noticing how determined he looked. A part of me wondered if Sophia was still out there, watching us, keeping track of how close we were getting for whatever crazy reason she was doing this.

"Mikel, you don't have to. I can handle it—"

"Bella." He said, "Dr. Chen made it clear. Emma needs both of her parents involved, and she needs to feel safe. It's not about what we can do by ourselves anymore; it's about what's best for our girl."

*Our daughter*. That phrase still gave me a jolt, but it felt good now. After all we'd found out about the lies that split us up, hearing him say that felt like things were getting better.

"The guest house," I said quietly. "You'd stay there again?"

"If that's all right with you. I know it's a lot to ask, having me around all the time."

I thought about it as we pulled into my driveway, automatically looking around for strange cars or anything suspicious. Sophia's messages during Emma's crisis had me on edge.

The guest house was maybe fifty yards from the main house, close if we needed each other, but still far enough away to have some space. When Emma first got sick, Mikel staying there felt like a necessary invasion. Now it felt like coming home.

"Emma would love it," I said. "She's been asking when you're moving back."

"What about you? How do you feel about it?"

I heard something in his voice—hope, but he was trying not to get his hopes up too much. He wanted this, but he wasn't pushing.

"I think," I said, "after everything we've found out about what happened between us, that maybe it's time to stop worrying about what people think." I thought of Sophia's message about families being fragile. "Especially when those people have already done their worst to mess us up."

He smiled softly. "So, is that a yes?"

"Yep."

We'd barely gotten Emma settled in her bed when she woke up a bit when we mentioned where Mikel was staying.

"Daddy's staying in the little house again?" she asked, her eyes wide even though she was tired.

"For a little while, honey. To help take care of you while you're getting better."

"Like before, when I was sick the first time?"

"Like before," Mikel said, sitting on the edge of her bed. "But this time, I know how to make your favorite pancakes."

Emma giggled, and it made us both feel better. "And you know how to braid hair now!"

"I've been practicing," he said seriously, which made her laugh again.

"Can we have breakfast together? All three of us?"

Mikel looked at me, and I nodded. "All three of us," I confirmed, trying not to think about Sophia's message about watching us be happy while it lasted.

After we gave Emma her meds and she fell back asleep, Mikel and I were in the kitchen, feeling kind of awkward now that she wasn't there.

"I should grab my stuff from the hotel," he said, not moving.

"I should show you where everything is," I said, also standing still.

We stood there for a second, both of us realizing how strange this was. Five years ago, he knew this house like the back of his hand. Now we were acting like strangers, especially since Sophia might still be watching us.

"Bella," he said quietly, "I won't push things. Just because I'm staying here for Emma doesn't mean I'm going to assume anything about us."

"What if I *want* you assume some things?"

It came out before I could stop it. Mikel's eyes got a little wider.

"Like what?"

I took a step closer, feeling both brave and scared. "Maybe we could have dinner together sometimes. Maybe we could watch movies after Emma goes to bed. That maybe..." I paused. "Maybe this isn't just about raising our daughter."

He took a breath. "Bella—"

"I know it's complicated. I know we still have a lot to deal with. But Mikel, what we learned today about our marriage—it changes everything. And knowing that Sophia is still out there, still trying to mess us up..." I shook my head. "I'm tired of letting her win by keeping us apart."

"It changes the past," he said carefully. "But we still lost five years. We're different people now."

"Maybe we're better people," I said. "Maybe we could love each other better this time, and protect each other better."

He touched my face, running his thumb along my cheek. "I never stopped loving you, Bella. Even when I hated myself for what I thought I'd done, even when I thought you'd never forgive me, I never stopped."

"Me either. Even when I thought I hated you, even when I was so angry I could barely breathe—underneath it all, I never stopped loving you."

We were standing closer now, feeling the weight of those five years between us. His hand was still on my face, and I could see the moment he decided to just go for it.

"Can I kiss you?" he whispered.

Instead of answering, I kissed him for the first time in five years.

It was everything I remembered, but also new. Soft at first, like we were both scared. Then deeper, more intense, as five years came pouring out.

He tasted like coffee and hope and coming home. His hands went into my hair, and I held on tight, remembering how we fit together, how I always felt safe when he held me.

"Mommy? Daddy?"

We jumped apart, both out of breath and probably looking guilty as anything.

"What's up, honey?" I asked, hoping I sounded normal.

Emma was in the doorway, dragging her dolphin. "I can't sleep. My tummy feels funny."

Right away, we were in parent mode, forgetting everything else.

"Funny how?" Mikel asked, kneeling down to her. "Does it hurt, or do you feel sick?"

"Like butterflies, but not good ones. And I'm thirsty."

I checked my phone. "Her meds aren't due for another hour, but she can have some water."

While I got Emma a drink, Mikel felt her forehead and asked her about how she felt. Watching him with her—so caring and focused on her—made me feel all kinds of things.

"Daddy, are you staying tonight?" Emma asked, taking a sip of water.

"I'm going to get some things from my hotel, but then yeah, I'll be right outside in the guest house."

"Can you check for monsters?"

"In your room or the guest house?"

Emma thought about it carefully. "Both. But the guest house most of all. I want to make sure *you'll* be safe too."

It almost broke my heart. She was worried about him being safe. But I also remembered what she had said about the scary lady who makes Mommy worry.

"I would be glad to check for monsters in both places," Mikel said, which made Emma smile.

After we got Emma back in bed and Mikel did a good job of looking for monsters, she finally drifted off.

"She's amazing," he said quietly as we stood in her doorway.

"She's been asking about you for years. When she was three, she used to put out an extra plate at dinner 'just in case Daddy comes home.'"

Mikel took my hand in the dark. "I'm not leaving again, Bella. No matter what happens or what we have to deal with, I'm never leaving Emma no matter what."

"I know," I said, and I really did believe it. "I trust you."

We walked downstairs, the weight of those words—*I trust you*—settling between us.

"I should go get my stuff," he said.

"I should probably get some sleep before it's time for Emma's next meds."

But neither of us moved. We stood in the hallway, still holding hands.

"Bella," he said quietly, "about the kitchen—"

"I don't regret it."

"Me either. But I want to do this right this time. I want to ask you out, like normal, and build something strong before we..." He looked toward the stairs, where Emma was sleeping. "Before we give Emma the secure place she needs and be part of a family that she wants."

"Before we do what?" I asked, though I already knew.

He smiled softly. "Before we give Emma a little brother or sister she keeps asking for it."

I took a breath. "She's been asking for siblings?"

"All the time. Her friends all have them, and she feels like she's missing out."

Thinking about having more kids, of building the family Emma wanted, made me feel emotional. But he was right—we needed to take things one step at a time, especially with Sophia still out there.

"So, how are you going to get me to go out with you in this situation?" I asked.

"Coffee in the morning while Emma eats breakfast. Helping with homework. Family movie nights. And maybe, when Emma's feeling better and we've dealt with our security issues, actually going out on dates."

"That sounds..." I paused. "Like a good start."

"Is it?"

"Yeah, but I'm not making this easy for you. You're going to need to work for it!"

He laughed. "I wouldn't want it any other way."

After he left to get his things, I walked through the house, seeing it differently. For five years, it had been *my* safe place. The thought of Mikel being here again should have felt scary, but it felt like coming alive.

My phone buzzed—a text from Elena: *How's Emma?*

*Better. Mikel's moving back into the guest house to help with her.*

*Good. You three belong together.*

*Elena, what if we mess this up? What if things out of our control ruin us like before?*

*Then you fix it again. Love is wanting each other, time and again, even when people try to tear you down.*

I was still thinking about what she said when I heard Mikel's car. I watched him carry his bags to the guest house, and saw the lights turn on.

It felt like the safest thing, having Daddy close by for all of us, especially with Sophia out there.

My phone rang. It was Mikel.

"Is everything all right?" I asked.

"Yeah, I just wanted to say goodnight, and I have activated all the security systems. If she tries to get close to the area, I'll be able to pick it up and we'll go from there."

The thought of that still scared me, and made me happy. "Thank you for doing all that. I appreciate it very much."

"Of course. I can see you in my dreams tonight; you can see me in the morning."

As I got into bed, I realized I was actually looking forward to tomorrow. Happy to wake up with Mikel close by, to have breakfast with my family, to build something strong that Sophia couldn't break.

Emma's health problems had put us close to each other, but what we did from there was up to us.

And for the first time in a long time, we were starting to want each other.

The lights were on late at the guest house, and that felt more real and safe than anything else.