Page 65 of A Prescription to My Heart

And when the door shuts behind them, I exhale like I’ve been holding my breath for a week. I lean against it, letting my head fall back. The silence hums in my ears, oddly comforting.

Talia’s in the living room, kneeling by the couch, picking up one of Marigold’s crayons. She glances up when I walk in. “Well?”

“They’re gone,” I say, and I’m still not sure I believe it.

She straightens, brushing her palms against her thighs. “They didn’t threaten you this time?”

“No. They…” I trail off, still trying to process.

Talia gives me a wary look. “They what?”

“They said you talked to them. Last night at the Gala”

Her expression flickers. “Right.”

“They said you stood up for me.”

She exhales. “It wasn’t some dramatic speech, Soren. I just told them what they needed to hear.”

“Whatdidyou tell them?”

She hesitates, then shrugs lightly. “That you were grieving. That you weren’t perfect but you loved your daughter. That trying to take her from you was selfish. That pretending it was about what was best for Marigold was a lie they told themselves to feel better.”

I stare at her. “You said all that?”

“Yeah.” Her voice is quiet now. “They needed to hear it.”

“Why?”

Talia looks at me then, really looks. “Because it was true. And because I was tired of watching them treat you like you were disposable.”

My throat goes tight. “They didn’t just hear you,” I say slowly. “They believed you. They saw how you looked at me. How we acted around each other. They think we’re real.”

She arches a brow, but there’s some color in her cheeks now, a faint flush. “Well, we’re great actors.”

“In some ways, yeah,” I say, voice low. “But that kiss…”

Talia looks away. “We don’t have to talk about it.”

I nod, even though my head is screaming to do the opposite.

“They said they approve of you,” I go on after a pause. “They smiled when they said it. Not fake smiles. Not patronizing. Just… relief.”

Her mouth twists. “I think they just needed someone to help them let go of their version of the story.”

I nod slowly. “I don’t know why you did it, but thank you.”

She doesn’t answer right away. She walks past me, toward the window, sunlight catching in her hair. Then, quietly, Talia says, “You’re a good father, Soren. I didn’t say it to be nice. I said it because I’ve seen it. And you didn’t deserve to keep fighting alone.”

I blink hard. There’s something raw clawing its way up my chest.

“I didn’t expect this,” I say. “Any of it. You. Marigold needing you the way she does. Me…”

“Feeling something again?” she finishes gently.

I let out a slow breath. “Yeah.”

Talia turns; arms folded loosely across her chest. “I didn’t plan on feeling anything either.”

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