Over the next few weeks, Liam’s presence in Leah’s life shifted from a comforting option to an absolute constant.
He started coming over three or four nights a week, usually bringing dinner from a local diner or simply sitting on her couch with a cup of coffee while she rested her swollen ankles. Their quiet evenings turned into actual dates—slow, relaxed walks along the harbor boardwalk where he let her lean heavily on his arm, and early dinner trips to small coastal eateries where the staff already knew him by name.
Then came the arrival of the flat-pack crib Leah had ordered online.
It sat in the middle of the baby’s nursery in two heavy cardboard boxes, looking like a terrifying geometric puzzle. Liam took one look at it, rolled up his sleeves, and announced with absolute law-enfor
