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…

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.»

In fall, the question arose that everyone expected but feared to voice. Mary started, as always. «Mom, dad, why don’t you live together?» «You love each.»

«Other.» «Mary, it’s complicated.» Began Sarah.

«What’s complicated?» «Dad loves mom, mom loves dad.» «We all love each other.» «So why dad goes home every evening?» Children looked expectantly.

Even Mike, usually silent in such questions. «Two years.»

Indeed, two years since he confessed love. Two years of cautious rapprochement, habituation, learning to trust. «We’ll think,» Sarah said.

«Promise, think.» Evening, when children slept, they stayed in kitchen. «They’re right,» Wolf said.

«Two years big term.» «Know.» «Sarah, I don’t rush.»

«Just.» «Maybe time?» «Time.» «Was she ready?» «To be with him under one roof, share life, bed.»

Last made her shudder. In two years, their physical closeness limited to kisses and hugs. Wolf didn’t insist, she didn’t offer.

Both understood, it’s separate difficult topic. «Michael, what if I can’t?» «What?» «You understand, he took her hand.» «Sarah, main for me—to be with you and children.

Everything else. If it happens—good, if not—I’ll accept. We can live as partners, friends, parents.

That’s enough. And for you? Don’t you need?» «I need you. Your presence, smile, trust.

Rest—details.» She looked at him and thought when this man became so dear to her. When his opinion became important, his absence noticeable, presence necessary.

Okay, she heard her voice. «Let’s try.» «Really?» His face lit up with such joy that heart squeezed.

«Really. But with conditions. First move in, see how it goes.

If children uncomfortable. Of course. Everything you say.

And… Bedrooms separate. For now. Of course.

And no pressure. We just live, raise children, see what comes.» Sarah, he stood, approached her.

«I waited six years. I’ll wait as long as needed.» She rose to meet him, hugged.

Like this, in embrace, she felt calm. «Right. Children will be happy,» she whispered.

«And you? We’ll see.» But deep down she knew the answer. «Yes, she will be happy too.

Maybe not immediately, maybe through fears and doubts. But will. Because love—strange thing.

It comes not always as we expect. Sometimes born from pain, grows from forgiveness, strengthens from shared experiences. Their love was just that.

Wrong, complicated, suffered. But real. Move decided to organize by New Year.

Wolf sold his bachelor apartment and bought house in suburbs, not huge, but spacious, with garden and space for children’s games. «Why not apartment?» Sarah asked, looking at photos. «Children need space.

Yard to play. Place for dog, Mike dreams. And…» He hesitated.

I thought, maybe someday family will grow. Sarah blushed. About that they didn’t talk.

Fourth child? From him? Not from violence, but from… Sorry, I’m ahead. Nothing. Just.

Let’s first settle life with three. Children took news of move with delight. «We’ll have our house?» Like in movies.

Yes, Daisy couldn’t believe happiness. «And dad will live with us always?» Clarified Mike. «Yes, always.

Yay!» Mary jumped around room. «We’re real family!» Moved mid December. Snow fell in large flakes, turning yard into fairytale.

Children ran around house, choosing rooms, exploring nooks. «Mom, look, attic!» «Can make playroom.

Dad, can basement be workshop? Where will dog live?» Sarah stood in middle of living room, with box in hands, smiling. «Their home! Their real home!» Wolf approached from behind, hugged. «Happy?» «Yes.

And you?» «Immeasurably!» First night in new house slept all together in living room, brought mattresses, made improvised camp. Children couldn’t sleep long from excitement, whispered, giggled. «Quiet, time to sleep!» Wolf grumbled sleepily.

«Dad, true now you’ll always be with us?» «True!» «Promise?» «Promise!» Sarah lay beside, listened to their talk and felt strange peace. As if all puzzle pieces finally in place. New Year met in new house.

Tree to ceiling, garlands everywhere, smell of mandarins and pine. Children helped cook, Mary shaped dumplings, crooked but heartfelt. Daisy decorated salads, Mike set table. «How everything changed!» Wolf said, slicing salad.

«For better!» «For best!» At table, Mike stood with homemade card. «I want to say toast!» «Can I?» «Of course, son!» «This year was best in my life!» «Because dad now always with us!» «Because we have home!» «Because mom no longer sad!» «I want next year even better!» «To always be together!» «And…» «He blushed!» «And to have little brother or sister!» «Because family great, and bigger the better!» Sarah almost choked on champagne. Wolf tactfully patted her back.

«Mike right!» Supported Mary! «We need baby!» «And dog!» Added Daisy. «Let’s start with dog!» Wolf smiled. «And then see!» After midnight, when children finally slept, they went to terrace.

Snow fell quietly, covering world with white blanket. «What thinking?» Wolf asked. «How strangely life turns.

Seven years ago on New Year’s night I cried from despair, not knowing how to raise three infants alone. And now…» «And now?» «And now I’m happy!» «Truly happy!» He hugged her from behind, buried face in hair. «I love you, Sarah!» «All of you!» «That girl you were!» «And that strong woman you became!» «And mother of our children!» «All of you!» She turned in his arms, looked in eyes…