The moment her eyes start filling with tears, I look away and start walking again. This is not the time for a breakdown from the both of us. I’m not sure whether she believes me, but I certainly do.

Wren’s fingers are tight around mine as we reach her mother’s room.

“Want me to go in first?” I ask.

She shakes her head, then exhales sharply before opening the door.

“Hi, Mom,” she says in a low voice, walking in slowly. I follow behind her, never letting go of her hand.

Melissa Lawson slowly shifts her gaze from the window at the end of her room to her daughter. A small frown overtakes her face as she examines her. The two of them look so alike, with similar upturned noses and dark hair.

“I-I brought someone I’d like you to meet,” Wren says, pulling me closer.

“Hello,” I say with a small voice. After clearing my throat, I add, “I’m Aaron. It’s very nice to finally meet you.”

Melissa’s gaze drifts from Wren to me, a little empty, but her eyes narrow when they land on me. As if she recognizes I’m someone she hasn’t met before.

Wren’s Mom hasn’t uttered a word yet, and I want to say something before she does. If Wren is right and she does get angry soon, I want my message to be delivered beforehand.

Taking a few steps forward, I crouch next to Melissa, careful to keep space between us. I haven’t forgotten what Wren told me about physical touch triggering her.

“I’m Wren’s partner.”

It still feels surreal to be able to say this. It’s been a month, and I haven’t come down my cloud. As if I’m living a dream, but every morning when I wake up, it’s still there.

Wren is tense behind me. I can feel it.

“I wanted to thank you for raising your daughter the way you did, and I also wanted to reassure you that she’s in good hands.” I swallow. “She isn’t alone anymore, and I’ll take care of her for as long as I can.” Not a simple reassurance, but a promise I intend on keeping.

Wren’s hand lands on my shoulder, warm and anchoring.

Melissa stays still. Not a single twitch occurs in her face.

That is, until she tilts her head and moves her gaze from me to Wren, and back again.

My breaths are short, stuttering. Something is about to happen. I wrap a hand around Wren’s shaking wrist, letting her know whatever happens, it’ll be fine. I’m not going anywhere.

But the thing that occurs next has me taken aback.

As she fixes her gaze on us, Melissa’s expression changes. Muscles are finally used. I feel it’s something out of the ordinary when I hear Wren’s soft gasp.