“Okay.”
“Saturday morning.”
“Thank you.”
“Don't.”
He hung up.
The oatmeal burned.
That afternoon Ivy saw his face before he told her anything.
“What happened?”
“Megan's coming.”
Ivy held a paper bag of nails against one hip.
“When?”
“Saturday.”
“For how long?”
“She says weekend.”
Ivy waited.
Then:
“Do you want me here?”
Adrian did not know how to answer.
Part of him desperately did.
Another part understood Megan would read Ivy's presence instantly.
Whatever Adrian and Ivy were not yet doing did not need to become ammunition.
“Not here.”
Ivy nodded.
“Okay.”
“I'm sorry.”
“Don't be.”
“I just don't want her thinking—”
“Adrian.”
He stopped.
“I understand.”
She started toward the porch.
Adrian said:
“She wants Noah back.”
Ivy turned.
“She hasn't said it.”
“Yet.”
Adrian looked toward the house.
“I can't lose him.”
Ivy set down the nails.
“You're his father.”
“That doesn't guarantee anything.”
“No.”
Her honesty made him look at her.
“But he is stable with you. He's in school. He's attached to this house. You show up every day.”
“I brought him to a house with no bed.”
“And you bought a bed.”
“The porch almost dropped him into a bush.”
“And you fixed the porch.”
“My entire financial life is a fraud case.”
“And you're fighting it.”
She stepped closer.
“You keep judging yourself by the worst day in every problem.”
Adrian stared.
Ivy continued:
“Maybe judge yourself by what you did the day after.”
Then she picked up the nails.
“Come on.”
“Where?”
“Porch.”
“You're avoiding the emotional part.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because you overthink when sitting still.”
She handed him a hammer.
“Build something.”
Saturday morning Megan arrived exactly at ten.
Adrian almost wished she had come late.
Late would have given him something small to be angry about.
Instead she looked well.
Hair done.
New coat.
Calmer eyes.
She hugged Noah carefully.
Noah allowed it but did not melt into her the way Adrian had feared.
For three hours, she took him to breakfast.
Adrian cleaned the kitchen twice.
Moved boxes in the basement.
Then sat on the porch and watched the road.
Across the street, Ivy's curtain shifted once.
Adrian saw.
She didn't come out.
That mattered.
The rental car returned at 1:15.
Noah climbed out carrying a small bag.
He leaned against Adrian's leg immediately.
Megan came up the walk.
“Can we talk?”
Inside, Noah went upstairs.
Megan remained standing in the kitchen.
“I want him back.”
There it was.
Adrian felt strangely calm.