He had somewhere else to be tomorrow. Something real to do. He fell asleep on his couch still covered in drywall dust, his phone alarm set for 5:30 so he could get back to Clara's early. The weekend became a blur of construction. Ethan showed up Saturday morning with more materials and coffee for both of them.
They finished the drywall, textured it, let it dry. Sunday they painted, Lily helping with the part she could reach, creating an abstract pattern along the bottom of one wall that Clara declared perfect, actually. By Sunday evening they had a room. Four walls, purple paint, a door that closed. Ethan had even built a small shelf unit that fit perfectly in the corner.
Lily stood in the doorway staring at her new space like it was made of magic. She signed something long and elaborate, her hands moving fast. She says it's the most beautiful room in the world, Clara translated, her voice thick. She says she never had her own room before, not ever. Well, she does now.
Lily turned and signed directly to Ethan, her expression completely serious. She says you're her family now, Clara said quietly. She wants to know if that's okay with you. Ethan crouched down to Lily's level. Yeah, kid.
That's more than okay with me. Lily threw her arms around his neck and Ethan held her, the small person who decided he was worth keeping. Over her shoulder, he saw Clara wiping her eyes. They spent the rest of the evening moving Lily's stuff into her new room. The bookshelf fit perfectly against one wall.
Her art supplies got their own corner. The mattress that had been on the floor went onto a simple frame Ethan had built Friday night in his workshop. "It's not fancy," he said, looking around at the bare-bones furniture. "It's perfect," Clara said firmly. "It's hers."
That night, for the first time in 2 years, Lily slept in her own room with a door that closed. Clara stood in the hallway watching through the crack like she couldn't quite believe it was real. "You okay?" Ethan asked softly. "Yeah, just she's never had this before.
Privacy, space, a door." "She has it now." Clara turned to look at him and her eyes were wet. "You built my kid a bedroom." "Yeah."
"That's that's not a small thing, Ethan." "I know." "No, I don't think you do." She moved closer, lowering her voice. "You gave her something nobody else ever has.
Not her mom, not me before this. A space that's completely hers. You would have done it if you could, but I couldn't and you did." Clara took his hand. "Thank you.
For seeing what she needed and just doing it." They stood in the hallway for a long moment, Lily's soft breathing audible through the door, the apartment settling around them. "I should go," Ethan said eventually. "It's late." "Or you could stay."
He looked at her. "Yeah?" "Yeah, I mean, you're covered in paint and you've been here for 12 hours and" Clara stopped, something vulnerable crossing her face. I don't want you to leave. Okay?
Okay? Okay, I'll stay. Clara kissed him then, slow and deep, tasting like the terrible coffee they'd been drinking all weekend. When she pulled back, she was smiling. Fair warning, my couch is lumpy and too short.
I've slept worse places. Liar. Okay, yeah. But I don't care. They stayed up talking until past midnight, voices low so they wouldn't wake Lily.
Clara told him about her sister, about the years of chaos before Lily came to live with her. Ethan told her about his divorce, about building a company he'd never wanted in the first place. Do you ever think about walking away? Clara asked. From all of it?
Every day. Why don't you? Responsibility. The company employs 2,000 people. I can't just bail because I'm bored.
That's depressing. That's being an adult. I hate that answer. Me, too. Eventually, they both fell asleep on the couch.
Clara curled against his side, Ethan's arm around her shoulders. It was uncomfortable and his neck was going to hate him in the morning, but it was also the best sleep he'd had in weeks. He woke up to Lily standing beside the couch, staring at them with intense curiosity. She signed something when she saw his eyes open. Morning, kid.
Ethan said quietly, careful not to wake Clara. What's up? Lily signed again, more insistent. I don't know what you're saying. You're going to have to wait for your aunt.
Clara stirred, blinking awake. She saw Lily and smiled sleepily. Hey, baby. What do you need? Lily signed, pointing at Ethan.
Clara laughed. She wants to know if you live here now. What do you want me to tell her? The truth? Which is?
Clara looked at him, something soft in her expression. That you're here a lot. And we like having you here. Ethan signed the best approximation he could, and Lily giggled at his terrible ASL. She signed something else then then ran back to her new room.
What did she say? That you need to learn to sign better. And that she's making us breakfast. Should I be worried? Probably.
Her idea of a breakfast is usually sugar-based. They ended up with toaster waffles covered in too much syrup and sliced bananas that Lily had cut herself with intense concentration. Ethan ate every bite and declared it delicious. After breakfast, Clara had to work on client revisions. Ethan offered to take Lily to the park to give her space.
You sure? Clara asked. Yeah, we'll be fine. She doesn't always listen to non-signers. Then I'll learn to sign faster.
Clara laughed and kissed him. Text me if you need help. The park was crowded with Sunday morning families. Ethan and Lily claimed the swings, and he learned more sign language in 2 hours than he'd picked up in the previous month. Lily was a patient teacher, repeating signs until he got them right, giggling when he mixed up similar words.
They got ice cream from a truck. Lily showed him how to sign different flavors. He taught her how to throw a baseball, though it became clear pretty quick that sports were not her thing. That's okay, he signed clumsily. Jake's not into art.