Saturday morning arrived with sunshine.
And peace.
For the first time all week, there was no school.
No work.
No hospital appointments.
No medication alarms going off every five minutes.
Just a quiet weekend morning.
Lillian stood in the kitchen making breakfast while Ellie sat at the table coloring.
Sebastian was sitting on the couch.
Exactly where he'd been sitting most mornings lately.
Reading.
Resting.
Recovering.
And driving Lillian slightly insane.
Not because he was doing anything wrong.
But because he hadn't left the apartment all week.
Not once.
Lillian glanced over at him.
Then glanced at the sunshine pouring through the windows.
Then back at him.
Nope.
Not today.
"Sebastian."
He looked up from his book.
"Hm?"
"We're going out."
Immediately suspicious.
"Where?"
"The park."
Sebastian blinked.
"The park."
"Yes."
A pause.
"I'm fine here."
Lillian wasn't surprised.
Of course he said that.
"You've been inside this apartment for almost a week."
"I'm recovering."
"You've been staring at the same walls for almost a week."
"They're very nice walls."
Lillian narrowed her eyes.
"Sebastian."
Before he could argue further, another voice joined the conversation.
"Daddy come!"
Ellie.
Sebastian immediately looked over.
His fate was sealed.
"Daddy park."
Tiny hands planted themselves on her hips.
A very serious expression crossed her face.
"Daddy needs outside."
Lillian immediately looked away.
Because she was trying not to laugh.
Sebastian stared at his daughter.
Then at Lillian.
Who looked entirely too pleased with herself.
"You planned this."
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Conspiracy."
"Absolutely."
Five minutes later Sebastian found himself getting ready.
Because apparently neither woman in the apartment accepted objections.
Especially the smaller one.
Ellie insisted on helping.
Which quickly became a problem.
Because Ellie had opinions.
Strong opinions.
"Daddy wear this!"
Sebastian looked down.
Then stared.
Then stared some more.
The shirt Ellie had selected was bright yellow.
Painfully bright yellow.
It was one of Lillian's old oversized shirts.
And definitely not his size.
Absolutely not.
"No."
Ellie looked shocked.
"Why?"
Lillian laughed from the doorway.
Sebastian pointed at the shirt.
"Because it looks like a highlighter."
Ellie looked at the shirt.
Then nodded.
"Pretty."
Lillian completely lost the battle against laughter.
Eventually, after much negotiation, Sebastian managed to wear normal clothes.
And an hour later they arrived at the local park.
The moment Ellie saw it, she exploded with excitement.
"SWINGS!"
Before either adult could respond, she was already running.
"Ellie!" Lillian called.
"Slow down!"
Ellie slowed down for approximately two seconds.
Then sped up again.
Sebastian shook his head.
"She's fast."
"That's because she's three."
As if that explained everything.
Apparently it did.
For the next hour, Ellie dragged them everywhere.
The swings.
The slide.
The climbing frame.
A patch of flowers she found fascinating.
A particularly interesting stick.
Three ducks.
Then the same three ducks again.
By the time they reached the small pond, Sebastian was beginning to understand why Lillian always looked tired.
Ellie never stopped moving.
Ever.
"How do you keep up with her?"
Lillian smiled.
"Coffee."
"Fair."
Nearby, Ellie was attempting to have a conversation with a duck.
The duck appeared confused.
Eventually they found a bench.
Lillian sat down first.
Sebastian joined her.
For a few moments neither spoke.
They simply watched Ellie.
She was collecting leaves now.
Apparently this was very important.
The leaves were being carefully inspected before being added to her collection.
Sebastian couldn't stop watching her.
The sunlight caught her blonde hair.
She smiled at everything.
Every discovery felt like the greatest thing she'd ever seen.
And watching her hurt more than he expected.
Because every smile reminded him of something.
Three years.
Three years he'd missed.
First words.
First steps.
Birthdays.
Christmas mornings.
School.
Everything.
The realization settled heavily in his chest.
"I didn't realize how much I missed."
The words left him quietly.
Almost before he realized he'd spoken.
Lillian looked at him.
Then followed his gaze.
Toward Ellie.
Their daughter.
Neither spoke for a moment.
Because there wasn't really anything to say.
The truth was obvious.
Sebastian looked down.
"I'll never get those years back."
Lillian's chest tightened.
Because she could hear the regret.
The pain.
The grief.
And despite everything that had happened between them, she hated hearing it.
"You can't."
Sebastian nodded.
The honesty hurt.
Then Lillian continued.
"But you're here now."
Sebastian looked at her.
"That matters too."
For several seconds neither looked away.
Then a tiny voice interrupted.
"Mommy!"
Ellie came running toward them.
A handful of leaves clutched in her hand.
"Look!"
She immediately shoved them into Sebastian's face.
He accepted this with surprising grace.
"Very impressive."
"I know."
The confidence was unbelievable.
Then Ellie pointed toward the swings.
"Again!"
And just like that, they were dragged away.
The swings became the next adventure.
Ellie climbed onto one.
Then pointed at both adults.
"You push."
Lillian immediately shook her head.
"No."
Sebastian agreed.
"Definitely not."
Ellie gasped dramatically.
The betrayal.
Then she tried again.
"Higher!"
"No."
"Higher!"
"Absolutely not."
"Higher!"
Lillian laughed.
Sebastian laughed.
Ellie pouted.
Then laughed too.
A while later, after another lap around the park, Sebastian slowed slightly.
Only slightly.
But Lillian noticed immediately.
A brief sway.
A moment of dizziness.
Gone almost as soon as it appeared.
Still, her attention sharpened instantly.
"You okay?"
Sebastian nodded.
"Just tired."
She wasn't convinced.
But he seemed steady.
So she let it go.
For now.
As the afternoon stretched toward evening, the park slowly emptied.
Families headed home.
Children became quieter.
The sunlight softened.
And eventually Ellie ran out of energy.
A miracle.
A genuine miracle.
They were walking back toward the car when it happened.
Ellie slowed.
Yawned.
Then reached both arms upward.
"Daddy."
Sebastian smiled.
Without hesitation he picked her up.
Ellie immediately rested her head on his shoulder.
Two minutes later she was asleep.
Completely asleep.
Sebastian froze.
Carefully adjusting his hold on her.
As though she were made of glass.
Lillian watched quietly.
The sight made something ache inside her chest.
Because Sebastian couldn't stop looking at Ellie.
Not even for a second.
His expression was soft.
Peaceful.
Happy.
Happier than she'd seen him in years.
For once there were no board meetings.
No hospitals.
No alcohol.
No stress.
Just a father carrying his sleeping daughter.
The evening sunlight painted everything gold as they reached the car.
And for the first time since Sebastian had come back into their lives, Lillian found herself wondering something.
Maybe their future didn't have to look like their past.
Maybe this time things could be different.
Maybe.
For now, that possibility was enough.