But he didn’t.

“If you’ll let me.”

No one hugged. No one rushed forward.

Instead, Dora said, “We should start preparing dinner.”

Like that was simply… the next step.

So we did.

Dinner felt different that night. Not tense—just unfamiliar.

Edwin sat at the end of the table like he didn’t want to take up space.

Dora asked him something small—about work, I think.

He answered.

Lyra followed with another question.

Jenny stayed quiet for a while.

Then, halfway through, she spoke too.

It wasn’t easy. It wasn’t warm.

But it wasn’t distant either.

I watched it all quietly.

Letting it unfold, because this wasn’t something I could control.

It never was.

Later that night, after the dishes were done and the house had settled, I stepped outside.

Edwin was on the porch again.

I leaned against the railing. “You’re not off the hook,” I said.

“Yeah.”

“They’re going to have questions.”

“I’m ready.”

That night felt quieter, lighter in a way I hadn’t expected.

Not because everything was fixed—but because everything was finally out in the open.

There was no more wondering.

Just… what comes next.

And for the first time in a long time, we were all in the same place to figure that out.

Together.