Finally, he spoke again, his voice softer. “Ryan will be home soon, won’t he?”

“Yes,” I replied, hope flickering within me at the thought. “In a few weeks.”

“Good,” Grandpa Victor said, a small smile playing on his lips. “You’ll need him. But in the meantime, you have other family willing to step in.”

I blinked at him, the reality of his words sinking in. “You mean…?”

He nodded. “You’re coming to stay with me. You and Ethan.”

The relief was so sudden, so overwhelming, that I almost sagged against the seat. “Thank you,” I whispered, the words too small to encompass the gratitude I felt.

He waved a hand dismissively, his expression softening. “It’s not charity, Olivia. It’s family.”

The sedan continued its journey, cutting through the cold with purpose. Beside me, Ethan stirred, a tiny fist reaching out to grasp my sweater. I looked down at him, my heart swelling with love and determination.

This wasn’t the end of my struggles. I knew that. There would still be challenges ahead, still nights filled with worry and days shadowed by uncertainty. But for the first time in a long time, I felt like I was moving in the right direction.

With Grandpa Victor’s support, with Ryan’s imminent return, with the knowledge that I wasn’t alone, the path before me seemed just a little bit brighter.

And as the car drove on, I allowed myself to believe that maybe, just maybe, we were all going to be okay.