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
We talked for another thirty minutes. Dr. Chen walked me through grounding exercises for the panic attack. Reminded me of the coping strategies we'd worked on. Made me commit to coming to her office tomorrow for an in-person session because clearly I needed more than phone check-ins right now. By t
Evening came. A nurse brought a second chair that reclined for sleeping and a blanket. Said visiting hours were technically over but they were flexible with parents in pediatrics. Both of us could stay if we wanted. James was already falling asleep on the couch, exhausted from the stress of the day.
"Good. Send me everything before you leave." Naomi looked between us with an expression I couldn't read. "And maybe actually get some sleep? Both of you look exhausted." She left. Carter and I packed up in silence, threw away takeout containers, turned off lights. Walked to the elevator together. H
"Done." Naomi was already typing. "And Grace? For what it's worth, I think you're making the right call. Those boys need a mother who protects them fiercely. That's you. Carter needs to earn the right to be their father, not demand it." We sat in the lobby for a few more minutes, Naomi handling the







