Hadley took a seat beside her friend, choosing silence over questions. She reached for the tissue box on the table and gently dabbed away Elissa’s tears without saying a word.

“He’s gone.” Elissa’s gaze flickered toward her.

“He is.” Hadley gave a small nod.

“I told you, Hadley—no wedding. Not after this.” A choked laugh escaped Elissa as she wept.

Hadley fell silent, her thoughts lingering on everything Elissa had shared about Ernest and Linda. So after Ernest showed up, their meeting ended with a breakup? It caught her off guard, but it wasn’t really surprising. Ernest was never one to let go easily. Still, it made sense now that he had already chosen Linda. Why keep Elissa close if he was going to commit to someone else?

“Hadley!” Suddenly, Elissa broke down, collapsing into Hadley’s arms and clinging to her. Her sobs came in shaky bursts, the pain raw in her voice. “It hurts so much…” Her sentences came out in fragments, her voice thick with emotion. “Isn’t it funny? This is what I wanted… but the pain is worse than I imagined.”

She pressed her face into Hadley’s shoulder, seeking comfort.

“I know, I know.” Hadley offered quiet support, her hand resting on Elissa’s back. “I get it.”

That ache was all too familiar to her. She’d felt it herself when she ended things with Eric. Even though it was the choice she had made, the hurt still felt just as heavy. Sometimes, freedom came at a price. Letting go of certain people was necessary, even if it left you shattered inside. Sometimes, your heart had to break to move forward.

The following evening, Eric arrived at Jewel Avenue, his heart heavy with anticipation. Tomorrow marked the start of Locke’s summer classes, and Eric was there to pick him up at Ernest’s request.

As Hadley opened the door and saw him, a flicker of surprise crossed her face.

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“Oh, it’s you,” she said softly. “Come on in.”

“Thank you,” Eric replied with a nod, stepping inside. A wave of unease washed over him. Ernest couldn’t bring himself to come here and face Elissa, and in truth, Eric wasn’t any better for it. A quiet guilt weighed on him toward Hadley and Joy. Hadley, ever gracious, greeted him with a kind smile that put him slightly at ease. But Joy… that was another story.

From upstairs came the sound of footsteps, accompanied by the cheerful chatter of Joy and Locke descending the staircase hand in hand.

“Locke, you’d better show up bright and early next weekend, too,” Joy teased.

“You bet,” Locke replied with a serious nod. “I’ll be here so early you’ll barely have time to blink before you see me!”

“Okay!” Joy’s laughter rang out, bright and carefree.

Eric’s gaze settled on his daughter, unable to tear his eyes away. Children seemed to grow in the blink of an eye, each day bringing subtle but visible changes. His little princess was blossoming, her round cheeks adding to her undeniable charm.

As the two children approached, Eric’s mouth went dry, his palms clammy with nerves.

“Uncle Eric,” Locke said, spotting him first. “Thanks for coming to get me.” Locke had gotten a call from his father, aware that Eric would be the one picking him up today.

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