Chapter 70

The ride home from the hospital was quiet, with Charlie sleeping peacefully in his car seat. Alice sat in the back with him, unable to take her eyes off her son. Carson had hailed a cab to take them home.Carson sat at the front with the cab man occasionally glancing in the rearview mirror at his little family, a mix of relief and love washing over him.

As they pulled up to Alice's apartment building, Carson turned to her. "Why don't you both stay at my place tonight? I'd feel better if we were all together."

Alice nodded, too exhausted to argue. "Okay, but we'll need to stop here first to pick up some things for Charlie."

Once inside Alice's apartment, Carson insisted on packing while Alice tended to Charlie. As he moved around the small space, gathering clothes and toys, he was struck by how much he wanted this - not just visits and shared moments, but a real, everyday life with Alice and Charlie.

With bags packed and Charlie settled, they made their way to Carson's larger apartment