“I worked whatever jobs I could find,” Tess continued. “Waitressing, cleaning offices, assisting elderly neighbors, anything. I managed to stay afloat for a long time. But then the restaurant I worked for closed, and I hurt my back lifting equipment. I couldn’t work for months. Rent slipped away from me faster than I could catch it.” She swallowed. “We were evicted two months ago.”
The room fell silent except for the steady hum of the heater.
“Tess,” Owen said quietly, “if I had known, I would have taken care of you and the boys.”
“I didn’t want to ask for anything,” she said. “I didn’t want it to seem as though I sought you out for money.”
“You should never have had to face this alone.”
Her eyes softened a little, almost reluctantly. “I know. But I did not want to burden you.”
“You never were a burden,” he said, his voice roughened by emotion.
The boys, still sleepy, climbed onto the sofa beside their mother. Jace watched Owen with wide eyes while Milo leaned against Tess, already drifting to sleep. Owen took in every detail. The way Jace tilted his chin with a confidence he did not realize he had. The way Milo curled his hands when anxious. Small things that mirrored Owen himself.