He looked at me, eyes soft, steady, and full of something I hadn’t dared hope for in years. “You know,” he said slowly, voice low and deliberate, “I’ll be even happier if we can be a complete family.”

My breath caught. The words weren’t just words. They were a promise, a wish, a quiet confession. My pulse fluttered in my ears, and for a moment, I couldn’t even respond.

Marga, who had been watching us curiously from the living room rug, bounced on her little heels. “Complete ...