Page 55 of Falling for Love

“He let us both down, Evie. But we’re all human. Unlike some men, he stayed accountable.”

“No, you’re right. I just… I don’t want to risk it,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

“I get that,” she said, her tone softening. “But life is full of risks, sweetheart. Some are worth taking. From what you’ve told me about Liam, he sounds like one of the good ones. And if he makes you happy, maybe it’s worth seeing where it goes.”

I swallowed hard as her words sank in.

“What if it doesn’t work out?”

“Then it doesn’t work out. But at least you’ll know you gave it a chance. You deserve to be happy, Evie. And so does Hayden. If Liam brings some light into your life, maybe embrace it. You’ve had a habit of letting the shadows win.”

Tears stung my eyes, but I wiped them away quickly.

“Thanks, Mom.”

“Anytime,” she said, her voice filled with love. “And remember, you don’t have to figure it all out at once. Take it one step at a time. You’re stronger than you think.”

“I’ll try. I love you, Mom.”

“Love you too, sweetheart. Now, go make a cup of tea and give yourself a break. You deserve it.”

As I hung up, her words lingered in my mind.

Maybe she was right.

Perhaps it was time to stop running from the possibility of something good, even if it scared me.

And as much as I tried to push the thought away, I couldn’t help but wonder what it might feel like to let someone like Liam in—to take that risk, one step at a time.

I saw Hayden’s school bus round the corner. The yellow gleaming exterior was a happy sight, reminding me how much I loved this time of day.

My heart did the little flip it always did when Hayden came home. The bus hissed to a stop at the edge of our driveway, and Hayden bounded down the steps like he had rockets strapped to his sneakers.

I opened the door as his little voice rang through the air.

“Mom!”

His backpack bounced against his shoulders as he sprinted toward me. His face excitedly lit up when he saw me, and his cheeks turned pink from the crisp air.

I knelt slightly as he barreled into me, wrapping his tiny arms around my waist.

“Hey, Little Man!” I held on for a moment longer than usual. These moments were precious, and I knew they wouldn’t last forever.

There would come a time when he’d wave from the bus and stride into the house with barely a glance, when hugs would be replaced by a quick “Hey” over his shoulder before he’d disappear into his room to call friends or do whatever older kids did.

The thought tugged at me, bittersweet and grounding all at once.

“Guess what?” Hayden said, pulling back to look at me, his eyes sparkling.

“What’s that?” I asked, smoothing his hair as he grinned up at me.

“I’m not sick anymore,” he declared proudly, spreading his arms wide. “See? All better.”

I laughed, shaking my head. “I know. I wouldn’t have sent you sick.”

As we walked into the house, Hayden chattered about his day—how he’d gotten an A on his math test, how his friend Ben tripped during recess, and how Mrs. Callahan was letting them start a class project on space the next week. His excitement was contagious, and I smiled as brightly as he was.

I set his backpack on the hook by the door and guided him to the kitchen. The familiar warmth of the space greeted us, and sunlight streaming through the window danced across the light blue cabinets.

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