I rarely dated. Life was busy enough raising him alone.
But about a year ago, something unexpected happened.
I met Amelia.
Amelia worked at a small bookstore near my office.
She had a calm presence about her — the kind of person who made a room feel quieter just by walking into it.
We started talking whenever I stopped by.
Then we started having coffee.
And eventually, I brought her home to meet Leo.
I was nervous. Children can sense when someone doesn’t belong.
But the moment Amelia walked in, Leo lit up.
She asked him about his drawings. She laughed at his jokes. She listened to his stories as if they were the most important thing in the world.
Within weeks, the two of them were inseparable.
She never tried to replace Nora.
Instead, she simply loved Leo in her own gentle way.
Six months later, I proposed.
And a few months after that, we were married.
For the first time in years, our house truly felt complete.
Until that night.
