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…

He loves her. The man who raped her six years ago now speaks of love. It’s wild, wrong, impossible.

But why heart beats so fast? Why she recalls his gaze, voice, hands carefully adjusting blanket? No. No, no, no. She can’t.

Shouldn’t. It’s betrayal of self, her pain, all she went through. But children… Children love him.

He’s wonderful father. And they dream of full family, she sees in their eyes. What to do? After Christmas confession, Sarah tried to keep distance.

Answered calls curtly, found reasons not to meet. Wolf understood hint. Came only when she at work, spent time with children, left notes what they did, left before her return.

Children noticed change. «Mom, you and dad quarreled?» Mike asked at dinner. «No, what.

Just adults sometimes have difficult periods. But he no longer dines with us. And you’re sad.

All good, sweetie. Really. But it wasn’t good.

Sarah caught herself waiting for his appearance. Disappointed finding only note at home. Falling asleep recalling his words.

«I love you.» «How possible? How can love the woman he himself?» No, she couldn’t even think. Month passed.

February snowy, children sledded, built snowmen. Wolf took them while Sarah worked. She saw photos Mary posted in family chat.

Happy, rosy faces against winter park. On Valentine’s Day, unexpected. Daisy brought Valentine from school.

«Mom, look!» Tim gave me. Nice smiled Sarah. «Will dad give you Valentine?» «Daisy, we with dad not.

We’re just friends.» «But friends give Valentines too.» «Here, I made for you.»

Daughter handed homemade card with crooked heart and «Best mom in world.» Evening, when children slept, doorbell rang. Sarah opened, no one on threshold.

Only bouquet of tulips and note. «Sorry for breaking promise to be silent. But can’t not congratulate you today.

May your life have more love, children’s, friendly, any. You deserve it.» M… Sarah stood with bouquet, eyes stinging treacherously.

White tulips, her favorite. How he knows? Typed message «Thanks.» Deleted.

Typed again «Not worth it.» Deleted again. Finally sent.

Children miss. «Come Saturday for dinner.» Reply instant «Thanks.»

«Will come for sure.» Saturday dinner surprisingly easy. Children happy dad with them again.

Wolf behaved as usual, joked, helped cook, played with children. Only sometimes Sarah caught his gaze, warm, sad, full of unsaid words. After dinner, children persuaded to watch movie «All together.»

Sat parents on sofa, themselves on floor with blanket and pillows. Movie about penguin family. Daisy cuddled mom’s leg, Mary dad’s, Mike in middle.

At some point he turned and smiled. «Good when we’re all together.» Sarah felt Wolf tense beside.

Their hands on sofa back in dangerous proximity. Slight move and fingers touch. She didn’t move.

Didn’t pull away either. When credits rolled, children asleep. Wolf carefully lifted Mary, Sarah Daisy.

Mike woke, but obediently went to room. Put children to bed together, by routine. Adjusted blankets, kissed foreheads, left.

«Coffee?» Sarah offered. «If not against.» Sat in kitchen, drank coffee, talked about children.

About school, successes, plans for breaks. Safe topics. «Mike wants swimming section,» Wolf said.

Doctor approved, says useful after illness. Good idea. He loves water.

There’s great pool near you. I checked, take from seven, experienced coach. «We’ll see.»

Conversation died. Both knew something unsaid hanging between. «Sarah.»

«Don’t,» she said quickly. «Please.» «Let’s just.»

«Be parents.» «That’s enough.» «Enough for children.»

«And for you?» «For me?» She stood, took cups to sink. «Michael, I can’t.» «Understand?» «I can’t step over what was.

Even if…» She faltered. «Even if what?» «Doesn’t matter. Just can’t.»

He approached, stood beside. Not touching, but close enough to feel his warmth. «I understand.

And don’t rush. Just want you know, I’ll wait. As long as needed.

Whole life if required. And if I never can?» «Then I’ll be content with what is. Being father to our children—already more than I deserve.»

He left, leaving her at sink. Sarah looked long at window on falling snow. «Even if…» Even if she too starts feeling something.

Even if his presence no longer scares, but warms. Even if she misses when he’s not there. But how to step over past? How to forget that night that changed everything? How to allow self to love the man who… who no longer that? She saw how he changed.

Saw him with children, patient, loving, ready for anything for them. Saw his tears when Mike sick. His joy at each achievement.

This was different man. But is it enough? Trip to Disneyland scheduled for spring break. Children counted days, Sarah handled documents.

First time abroad, first flight. For children all first. At airport, Wolf handled all organization.

Registration, luggage, control. Sarah only marveled how easily he manages. «Used to flights,» he explained.

«Fly often for work. On plane, children glued to windows. Takeoff met with delighted squeals.

Sarah sat by aisle, across from them. Wolf, next to children, calmed, explained, showed. «Mom, look, clouds!» Daisy waved.

«We’re above clouds.» Sarah smiled at their delight. And caught herself looking not only at children, but Wolf.

How patiently answers endless questions. How holds Mike reaching for window. How adjusts Mary’s seatbelt.

Good father. Really good. Hotel in Paris.

Yes, he chose Disneyland in Paris, not America, shorter flight. Proved fairytale. Rooms in castle style, park view, kids animation. «Two rooms, as agreed,» Wolf said at reception.

«Adjoining, with connecting door.» «Why adjoining?» Sarah tensed. «So children can go back and forth.

And so we can watch each other.» Logical. Everything logical with him.

First day in park magical. Children ran from ride to ride, photos with characters, screamed on roller coasters. Kids’ ones, of course.

Sarah followed with camera, capturing happiness. At some point, Wolf took camera. «Go to them.

I’ll shoot you together.» And she went. Hugged children, smiled at camera.

Normal family photo. Evening, when tired but happy children slept, she went to balcony. Below park sparkled with lights, music played.

Door to neighboring balcony opened. «Wolf! Can’t sleep?» Too many impressions. He leaned over low partition between balconies.

«Thank you for agreeing to go. For children this. Know.

Saw their faces. And for me too,» he added quietly. Sarah looked at him.

In lantern light, his face seemed younger, softer. «Michael, I thought about your words. About what you… feel…» He froze.

«I don’t know if I’ll ever respond same. Too much between us. But…» She took deep breath.

«But you’re not indifferent to me. Not at all.» Hope sparked in his eyes.

«Sarah…» «No words needed. Not yet. Let’s just… See what happens.

No promises. No plans. Just live and see.»

Good, he smiled. «Just live. I like it.»

They stood on adjacent balconies, separated by low partition, but closer than all these years. Below fireworks exploded. Disneyland night show.

Beautiful, magical, unreal. Like her whole life now. Paris flew like dream.

Five days pure happiness. Disneyland, Eiffel Tower, Louvre. Children amazingly endured two hours among paintings.

Walks on embankments, French croissants for breakfast, city evening lights. On return flight, children slept, exhausted by impressions. Sarah sat by window, Wolf beside…