Giving birth to triplets from her rapist, Sarah sobbed loudly, and when out of desperation she got a job as a cleaner to feed her children, she suddenly froze in place, recognizing in her boss…
«Michael, will he die?» «No. No, Sarah. I won’t allow.
We have money, connections. Best doctors in the world. He’ll live, hear?» And it spun.
Urgent admission to private clinic. Consultations with foreign specialists. Tests, procedures, IVs.
Mike was brave. Endured painful shots, nausea after chemo. Only eyes showed fear.
«Mom, I won’t die.» «No, sweetie. You’ll recover.
Promise?» «Promise.» Sarah practically lived in hospital. Wolf relieved her when needed to pick up girls from school, feed, put to bed.
First time they acted as a real team. Doctors were cautious in prognoses. Leukemia aggressive, but young body, strong.
Chances are. After second chemo course, Mike worsened. Immunity dropped to critical, any infection could be fatal.
He was moved to sterile box. Sarah looked at him through glass, bald, emaciated, with bruises from IVs. Her strong boy.
«Need bone marrow transplant,» doctor said. «Urgently. Check compatibility with relatives.»
Checked all. Girls didn’t match. Sarah neither.
Left Wolf. Results came in three days. Full compatibility.
Rare luck, even for biological fathers with children not always. Wolf agreed without hesitation. «When operation?» «Need preparation.»
«For donor, procedure not dangerous, but…» «I don’t care about but…» «When?» «In a week.» Week dragged like year. Mike weakened daily.
Girls drew cards for him, passed through nurses. «Get well, brother. We love you.»
Wolf passed all exams. Turned out he had perfect health, no contraindications. «You sure?» Sarah asked day before operation.
«It’s painful procedure.» «Sarah, he’s my son. I’d give him all organs if needed.»
Bone marrow harvest was indeed painful. Wolf under anesthesia for hours while doctors took material from pelvic bones with needles. Sarah waited in corridor.
Strange feeling—worry for the man she once hated. But now he was saving their son, and that was most important. Transplantation successful.
Now wait if new bone marrow takes, starts producing healthy cells. Wolf woke in evening. Pale, grimace of pain on face.
«How’s Mike?» «Too early to say.» But doctors optimistic. «Good.
Good.» He tried to sit, but groaned and fell back on pillow. «Lie down.
Can’t get up for at least a day.» «Sarah.» «Thank you for allowing.»
«Thank you for giving a chance to fix something.» She silently adjusted his blanket. «What to say?» Next two weeks critical.
«Mike better then worse.» Temperature jumped, tests changed daily. On fifteenth day, head doctor smiled.
«Positive dynamics.» Bone marrow took, started working. Boy recovering.
Sarah cried right in the office. Tears of relief, happiness. Wolf cried too when she told him.
Stood in middle of ward, big strong man crying like child. «He’ll live.» «Our boy will live.»
«Our boy.» First time it sounded right. Mike discharged in a month.
Weak, but alive. Girls met him with balloons and welcome home posters. Recovery slow.
Needed special diet, constant meds, regular checkups. But main, crisis passed. Wolf came every day.
Read books to Mike, played quiet games, just sat beside. Bond between them special, not just blood, but cellular level. Mike now had father’s cells that saved his life.
«Dad, is it true now part of you in me?» Mike asked once. «True, son. So we’re definitely related.
We always were. Just now connected in special way.» Sarah watched from kitchen.
«Father and son. How much those words mean.» By summer, Mike strengthened so doctors allowed sea trip.
Wolf rented house in Florida, quiet place, away from noisy resorts. «Come with us,» children begged. All together.
Sarah hesitated. Two weeks together, under one roof, too intimate, too like real family. «Separate rooms,» Wolf promised.
«No… Just rest for children. Mike needs sea air.»
Argument about Mike decided. Sarah agreed. House spacious, with big terrace and sea view.
Children delighted. First ran to water. Sarah and Wolf barely held them, reminding sunscreen.
Days flowed leisurely. Morning—sea, day—rest in shade, evening—walks on boardwalk. Children tanned, strengthened.
Mike still tired fast, but eyes shone healthy. One evening, after hot day, children slept early.
Sarah went to sea, sat on sand. Wolf found her. «May I?» She nodded.
He sat beside. «What thinking?» «How strangely everything turned out. Six years ago I walked through park, nothing suspecting.
And now…» «Regret?» «You asked already.» «No, don’t regret. Without that night, no them.
My children. Our children. And they’re best in my life.
So no, don’t regret. Can’t forgive, can’t forget. But regret? No.»
Wolf nodded silently. Reached to take her hand, but changed mind. «Too early.
Maybe always too early. But sitting like this, looking at sea, knowing children sleep in beds, healthy and happy, was enough. For now enough.»
Fall came unnoticed. Children went to second grade, Mike fully recovered. Life in routine, but Wolf now integral part.
He picked children from school when Sarah delayed at work. Attended parent meetings. Helped with homework.
Other parents long considered them spouses, harder to correct. One day in November, Sarah got sick. Simple flu, but knocked her down hard.
Wolf took children to his place, first time. «Don’t worry, I’ll manage. I have guest rooms, enough for all.»
Sarah too weak to argue. Three days children lived with father. Called every few hours, told how interesting.
«Mom, dad has huge apartment. And aquarium with fish. And piano.
He cooks not as tasty as you, but tries. Mom, get well soon. We miss you.»
On fourth day, Wolf brought them home. Children rushed to hug mom, babbling about adventures. When they ran to their room, Wolf sat on bed edge.
«How are you?» «Better. Thanks for taking them. Sarah, they’re my children.
No need thank for caring.» He adjusted her blanket, and from this simple gesture something stirred inside. «I made soup.
Nothing special, but need to eat.» Children said what you like. While she ate, he sat beside, told about past days.
How Mary taught him to braid doll hair. How Daisy drew his portrait. How Mike helped make breakfast.
Know what he said? «Dad, when mom gets well, let’s go all to Disneyland. Like real family.» «And what you answered?» «That I’ll ask mom.»
Sarah set plate aside. «Michael, what’s happening?» «What?» «Between us.» «What’s happening between us?» He paused.
«I don’t know. Honestly, don’t know. I just.
I’m good with you. With. Children.» «Like my whole past life was preparation for this.
But you understand between us can’t. Understand.
And don’t expect anything. Just want to be near. Be father to our children.
And. Friend to you. If allow. Friend.»
Strange word for their relations. But hadn’t they become friends over these months? Partners in raising children? People trusting each other the most precious? «Disneyland too much,» she said instead of answer. «Why?» «Children dream.
It’s expensive.» «Sarah, how long?» «I spend millions on charity.» «Can’t I spend on own children?» «Okay.
But only on spring break.» And. «Thank you. For everything.»
He smiled. Rare sincere smile making face younger. «This you thank.
For allowing into your life. Into their life. When he left, Sarah lay long, staring at ceiling.
What’s happening? Why his presence no longer burdens? Why she waits for his visits, misses when he’s delayed? Could it be? No. Impossible. After everything, she can’t feel for him anything but… But what? Gratitude for saving Mike? Respect for how he cares for children? Or something… more? This Christmas celebrated at Wolf’s.
Children insisted, wanted to see how dad decorates his huge apartment. Apartment indeed huge, penthouse with panoramic windows, river view. But furnished minimally, coldly.
Visible no one really lived there. Children changed everything instantly. Hung garlands, decorated tree, laid out drawings.
Apartment came alive, filled with laughter. «Dad, why no our photos?» Daisy asked. I. Wasn’t sure I had right to put them.
Of course you do. You’re our dad. For dinner, Wolf got out albums with photos.
Over year, many accumulated. Here’s first meeting in park, children wary, he confused. Here’s zoo trip.
Birthday. First day of school. Sea.
And this my favorite, Mary pointed to shot where they all on beach. We like real family. Sarah looked at photo.
Indeed, tanned, smiling, happy. From side, indistinguishable from ordinary family on vacation. After dinner, children engrossed in new gifts.
Sarah helped Wolf clear table. «Can I play music?» he asked. Quiet jazz melody played.
Sarah froze with plates in hands. This song. It played in cafe where we girls went to celebrate session end.
That evening. Before… Sorry, I’ll turn off. No need.
It’s just music. It’s not guilty. They continued clearing in silence, broken only by quiet melody and children’s laughter from living room.
«Sarah!» he said suddenly. «I need to tell you something.» She tensed. «I love you.» Plate slipped from her hands, but he caught it.
«What?» «I love you. Don’t know how it happened. Probably gradually.
First admired how you raise children. Then started noticing how you smile when think no one sees. How you tuck hair behind ear.
How you frown checking homework. And one day realized, I love you. Michael, impossible.» «Know.
After what I did, no right even to think. But heart doesn’t obey. You just… attached through children. Not love.» «No.
I love children separately, fatherly love. And you… love you as woman. Strong, beautiful, incredible woman who went through hell and remained human.
Sarah stepped to window. «Don’t. Please don’t.
You ruin everything. Sorry. Didn’t want.
Just… couldn’t keep silent anymore. Promise, won’t speak of it again. Let’s pretend this conversation didn’t happen.
But pretending didn’t work. Words said, now hung between them. Evening crumpled.
Sarah gathered children home early, citing fatigue. Wolf didn’t hold, only helped carry gifts to car. «Goodbye,» she said, not looking in eyes.
«Sarah. I ruined everything, right?» She got in car, not answering. All way home, children excitedly discussed evening, she nodded mechanically, thinking other…
