LOGINGRACE'S POV We got married on a Saturday in my backyard with thirty people watching. Small and intimate and nothing like our first wedding that had been all performance. This time everything was real. August and James were ring bearers, five years old and serious about their responsibilities. Li
CARTER'S POV Hope went to the NICU for observation because she was early. Standard protocol for thirty-five weekers the doctors said. Grace was exhausted but stable and I sat with her while nurses worked on our daughter in the next room. "I want to see her." Grace was trying to sit up. "Carter,
GRACE'S POV I called Carter Sunday morning with my conditions. "I read your letter five times. I believe you know me. But Carter, knowing someone and staying with someone are different things." I was sitting on my porch while the twins played inside with my mom. "I need you to prove you'll stay
CARTER'S POV I spent three days writing the letter. Not because I couldn't think of things to say but because I kept deleting what I wrote. Kept falling into old patterns of what sounded good instead of what was true. Dr. Chen told me to stop performing and just write honestly about why I loved Gr
CARTER'S POV The full reality hit me about thirty seconds after Grace told me. I was going to be a father again. Was going to have another chance at the beginning I'd missed with August and James. Was going to be there from the first moment if Grace let me. I sat down hard in her office chair be
GRACE'S POV I'd been nauseous for a week. Blamed it on stress from the press conferences and therapy and trying to figure out if Carter and I were actually doing this. My mom noticed first. "Grace, you look green. When did you last eat?" She was watching me push food around my plate at Sunday di
"He has to know," Naomi said during one of our calls. "Grace, the video has been seen by millions of people in Portland alone. Someone he knows has sent it to him." "Knowing I have children and knowing they're his are different things. And maybe he doesn't want to know. Maybe he's relieved I moved
I called Jessica at seven AM. "How fast can we launch a real online store? Full inventory, smooth checkout, the works?" "Two months if we prioritize it. Why?" She sounded more awake than anyone should at seven AM. "Because I can't keep going to Portland for every event or meeting. I have twin one-
My mom visited every weekend, held her grandsons and cried happy tears and told me I was doing great even when I felt like I was failing at everything. Aisha came once with updates about GRACE, assured me the company was thriving without me and I didn't need to worry. Maya sent photos of new designs
GRACE'S POV Carter moved toward me and I did the only logical thing…. I turned and walked straight into the bathroom, locked the door, and stood there breathing deliberately while my heart tried to escape through my ribcage. This was fine. Everything was fine. He was just another guest at my store







