It didn’t take long for Vivian to be discharged. The doctors insisted on more rest, more hydration, more IVs she could barely pronounce, but Vivian had one thing in her head and one hand locked in Christopher’s, she just wanted to go home.
And she did.
The ride was quiet at first. Not awkward, just… thick. Full of things neither of them had said yet. Her hand stayed curled in his lap, his thumb brushing soft, lazy circles over her knuckles like he needed to keep touching her to believe she was real.
She glanced at him once, hair messy, jaw rough with stubble, eyes flicking between the road and her like he was watching for signs she might disappear again.
But nothing could have prepared for what she saw at the front door.
“Daddy!”
The little voice made her freeze.
Her hand slipped
