It began in everyday,
Beautiful ways.
Nico started leaving the handwritten notes on the fridge.
I made your favorite chicken soup.
Just reheat.
And sometimes,
Under the food offerings,
A loving note just for her.
Rest today if you can.
Naps are for you too.
Followed by an XO.
XO.
Lauren would find them in the morning,
Pause with her hand on the paper,
And feel her heart expand with warmth.
One evening,
After Adriana drifted to sleep,
Lauren stood at the sink,
Rinsing a few dishes,
And Nico came up behind her,
Not touching,
Just standing close enough for her to sense him.
You don't have to do it all,
He murmured.
Okay,
She whispered,
And handed him the tea towel.
She washed while he dried.
It was such a small thing,
Yet her eyes blurred with tears.
Saturday morning started to be something she looked forward to.
The three of them would walk to the farmer's market,
Nico pushing the stroller,
Lauren carrying the canvas bag of fresh veggies and sourdough bread.
They fell into easy conversation,
What they'd like for lunch or where they might stop along their walk that afternoon.
There were pauses,
Too.
Comfortable ones,
Where they held each other's gaze.
One morning,
Nico started calling Adriana a little nickname,
Aria,
As he picked her up with such care.
Nico was smiling at Lauren in a way that made her heart come undone.
What?
She asked warmly.
It's just so good to see you laugh.
I love seeing you feeling light and happy with Adriana.
Lauren was really happy,
And especially that she'd taken this time on her own,
Not only to integrate all the inner work she'd taken on that past year,
But also to find her solid footing as a mom.
She was feeling stronger within herself,
Capable and ready to welcome Nico into their lives in a more permanent way.
They didn't rush into labels or declarations,
But their evenings grew gentler.
After dinner,
Lauren curled on the couch with a book while Nico played guitar softly in the corner.
They didn't rush into labels or declarations,
But their evenings grew gentler.
After dinner,
Lauren curled on the couch with a book while Nico played guitar softly in the corner.
Sometimes she read out loud a line that caught her,
And he would nod,
Strumming slower,
Taking in each word.
You know,
He said one night,
I used to think love was this big,
Dramatic thing,
Passion and travel,
And you know those nights we used to have.
And now,
She asked,
He set his guitar down.
Now I think maybe love is just this,
You,
Me,
This book,
This guitar,
And our baby finally asleep.
He smiled,
Almost shy.
And this,
It's everything.
Lauren held his gaze for a long moment.
It is,
She said softly.
What grew between them wasn't the wild,
Consuming fire of before.
It was steadier.
More like the embers that glowed warm and constant.
It was the hands brushing in the kitchen,
A laugh shared in the car,
Quiet reassurance of two people deciding,
Day after day,
How they wanted to build their lives together.
