AVA'S POV
The next morning felt like a reset button had been pressed.
There was a clarity in the air, the kind that only came with stepping back into your purpose.
I had kissed Zariah on the forehead before leaving, her sleepy gurgles still echoing in my chest as the car pulled away from our driveway.
Ethan stood by the door, waving with a warm, reassuring smile that made me feel like the world could spin safely.
Returning to work after maternity leave wasn't just about duty. It was about reclaiming a part of myself I hadn't realized I'd missed so deeply.
The foundation, the mission, the women we supported, it was all still waiting. And now, I had something even more powerful fueling me: motherhood.
Melanie met me at the entrance with a bouquet of white roses. "Welcome back, Ava."
I blinked, touched. "You remembered."
"Of course," she said. "We've been counting down the days."
