I heard you're moving to New York. Elena's blood went cold. How did you know that? I have my sources. Interesting that you can afford to move across the country when you claim to be broke during the divorce.
I'm not paying for it. Right. Your rich boyfriend is very convenient. David, what do you want? I want you to know that I know what you're doing.
Playing house with someone else's kids. Pretending to be something you're not. I'm not pretending. You're broken, Elena. You can't have children.
You can't build a real family. And eventually, he's going to figure that out and replace you with someone who can actually give him what he needs. The words were designed to hurt. They did. But Elena had spent months learning to recognize poison.
"You're wrong," she said quietly. "Am I? " "Yes, because family isn't about biology. It's about choice. And these people chose me every single day. They choose me for now.
Forever. Keep telling yourself that. I will. And David, what? Don't call me again.
Don't file complaints. Don't try to interfere with my life because I'm done letting you make me feel small. She hung up. Her hands were shaking, but she felt powerful. Mason found her 10 minutes later.
You okay? I heard you on the phone. David called. Mason's expression darkened. What did he want?
To remind me I'm broken. To tell me this won't last. Elena. But he's wrong. She looked at Mason.
He's wrong about all of it. Mason pulled her close. Damn right he is. That night, Elena couldn't sleep. She wandered downstairs and found Mara in the kitchen, also unable to sleep.
Hey. Hey. Mara was eating cereal directly from the box. Can't sleep either. Too much on my mind.
Same. They sat in comfortable silence. Then Mara said, "I'm glad you're coming with us. " Yeah. Yeah. It wouldn't feel right without you.
Elena felt tears building. That means a lot. Don't get weird about it. Too late. Mara smiled.
You're such a mom. Is that a good thing? It's the best thing. 3 days later, they boarded a plane to New York. Sophie bounced the entire flight.
Ethan read the same page of his book 17 times. Mara listened to music and pretended not to be nervous. Mason held Elena's hand during takeoff. "You ready for this? " he asked. Elena looked at their chaotic little family.
"No, but I'm doing it anyway. That's all any of us can do. " The plane lifted into the sky, and Elena realized she wasn't scared anymore. She was ready for New York, for whatever came next, for this beautiful, complicated, messy life she'd never planned, but couldn't imagine living without. New York hit them like a wall of noise and movement, and people who walk too fast and talk too loud. The apartment Mason had rented was in Manhattan, smaller than the house back home, but with floor to ceiling windows that made the whole city feel within reach.