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…

Their hands on armrest, almost touching. Worth slight move to touch fingers. Sarah, he called quietly. «Yes? Thank you.

For this week. For allowing to be part of this. You are part.

Part of their life. And yours?» She paused. Then carefully covered his hand with hers.

Light, almost weightless touch. And mine too. He turned palm, intertwined fingers.

First conscious touch in all these years. Sarah waited for panic, disgust, fear to surge. But only warmth.

And strange feeling of rightness. So, holding hands, they flew home. Home everything.

As before, but something subtly changed. Wolf still came to them, but now stayed for dinner. Still helped with children, but now hands touched sometimes, no one pulled away.

Children blossomed. As if felt changes in relations, became happier, more confident. «Mom, can dad stay overnight?» Mary asked once.

«At Katie’s from class, dad sometimes stays when late. Mary, no space. There is.

Sofa folds out. Dad, stay?» Wolf looked questioningly at Sarah. She shrugged.

«Why not?» So started overnights. Once a week, when stayed late with homework or board games. Wolf slept on sofa in living room, made breakfast in morning.

Strange, wrong, but their family. Summer decided to spend again in Florida. Same house, same sea, but all different.

Now they came together, one car. Now didn’t strictly divide rooms, children ran all over house. Wolf cooked in kitchen, Sarah read on terrace.

Almost like ordinary family on vacation. Almost. One evening, after especially hot day, children slept early.

Sarah went to sea. Wolf found her there, sitting on sand. «May I?» She nodded.

He sat beside. «What thinking?» «How strangely life turned.» «Six years ago I walked through park, suspecting nothing.

And now…» «Regret?» «You already asked.» «No, don’t regret. Without that night no them.

My children. Our children. And they 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.

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…