That afternoon, I took Liam to Luxembourg Gardens.
My son rode his bicycle along the winding paths, his bright laughter echoing through the park.
Jordan sat beside me on a wooden bench as we watched the autumn leaves drift lazily from the trees.
A news notification appeared on my phone.
The verdict from the trial.
I glanced at it briefly before locking the screen.
Jordan handed me a cup of hot chocolate.
"It's over," he said quietly.
"Yeah." I accepted the cup and wrapped my hands around it. "Thank you."
Jordan chuckled. "There you go again, thanking me."
"This time I mean it." I turned to look at him. "Without you, I never would have made it this far."
Jordan smiled and shook his head. "You got here on your own. I just helped out a little."
A li
