Kent and Justine are at the door when I open it, and I’m shocked that my mother-in-law is here. I was under the impression it would just be Kent. Though, now with Justine here, she may be the only person who Emma listens to. As stubborn as my wife is, Justine is that tenfold.

“I’m only here to help take her to the airport,” she says, and in her sometimes-hardened eyes, I see tears. “This is killing Annette and Nick,” she states painfully. “As it is you, I’m sure.”

“But, Justine, with everything …” I can’t finish the sentence before she waves me off.

“I may not have raised that girl,” she says, pointing toward our room, “but when Nick came along, I inherited the love he has for her. I’m saddened and shocked and hurt by this illness gripping her, but that doesn’t mean I need to choose between Rose and Emma. Rose will be okay and …” Then the very articulate Justine doesn’t finish her sentence because we all know where it’s going.

Kent is silent and stoic by the door, not sure what to say right now. He’s a no-nonsense kind of man, and though this hurts him, he’s able to separate the feelings he has for a woman he helped raise from doing what must be done.

With the loud bang of a slamming door, I brace myself for my wife’s anger. She appears in the doorway, and by her face, she’s shocked to see Justine in our living room but doesn’t say a word. Walking straight to me, she stands as close as she can. I turn to Kent because I assume he is looking around for her suitcase. “Kent, her bag is in the guest room.”

Looking at Justine, Kent says, “We will meet you outside. I’ll go through the garage to give you all some privacy. But we have to leave in ten minutes so we don’t miss our flight.” Always business, I nod at my father-in-law as Justine walks with Kent to help with Emma’s belongings.

I don’t have time to say anything before Emma throws herself at me. “Please, Ty, don’t send me away. I have learned so much. I don’t want to die. I want you.” She still doesn’t say anything about Aspen, and I don’t push.

Tucking one of her wavy tendrils behind her ear, I can only stare at her because this is the most I have seen of my wife since our girl was born. Sure, I’ve seen her every day, but what I’m witnessing now is a little bit of the old Emma shining through. “Ems,” I start. “I wish I didn’t have to do this, but it’s for your own good, baby,” I begin, and before I can take in her smell one last time, she pulls away from me and is out the front door, leaving it wide open.

* * *

After an hour passes, I somehow pull myself together only because the second love of my life is arriving home with her aunt Lila. With Aspen smiling in her aunt’s arms, Lila snuggles in every smell and touch of her niece. Jones is behind her with a satisfied look on his face, and for the first time since I found out this odd couple was indeed a couple, I see the perfectness of them.

“You are a natural, Lila,” I say as Aspen about jumps out of her aunt’s hands and into mine. She’s a bit of a daddy’s girl, and I don’t mind one iota. She’s my world, and in her little dimpled smile with her wavy black hair and deep black eyes, just like her mother’s, I know I have found my sanctuary. With Aspen in my sight, my tense muscles relax at the sound of her laughter. The wrinkles I feel around my eyes soften when I smile at my baby.

Before Lila can hand Aspen to me, she gives her a big kiss and then says, “Traitor! You only wanted me until you saw him.” Aspen finds comfort and familiarity in my arms. Before I can say anything, Lila asks, “You okay, Ty?”

I’m not okay, not in the least, but with Aspen in my arms, I can fake it. I don’t want their company because with it comes their pity. As though they sense my thoughts, Jones hands us a large tote. “Hildy insisted we bring this by for you.” This doesn’t surprise me. Hildy is married to Justine’s ex-husband and has become close to my mother-in-law through the years. It’s funny how this woman who we have no biological attachment to knows what we need and has been a willing volunteer to watch Aspen while I’m at work if Justine or my mom can’t.

“Somehow, I truly believe Hildy insisted on this.” I laugh, and now I’m grateful because as I smell something wonderful, my stomach begins to growl. I don’t remember when I ate last. When Lila hugs me and gives Aspen one more kiss on her way out, I’m relieved to be in the presence of just Aspen tonight.