Present.
“And now?” he asked softly.
“I don’t want him anywhere near my kids,” I said.
Simple.
Clear.
Marcus nodded.
Once.
“Okay.”
“That’s it?” I asked.
“What else do you need?” he said.
I looked at him.
Really looked at him.
“Something more dramatic, maybe?” I said.
He shook his head slightly.
“No.”
Then, after a pause-
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“I’ll stand with you through it.”
st like that
No big speech.
No promises he couldn’t keep.
Just… that.
“I won’t let anyone take your kids,” he added.
That landed.
Deep.
The food arrived.
Perfect timing.
The kids came back into the conversation like nothing happened.
Talking.
Arguing.
Eating.
Eli declared his sauce combination “superior.”
Aya disagreed immediately.
Marcus listened like it was the most important debate in the world.
I watched them.



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