I don't need you here, Mother. Clearly you do. Look at this place. It's a mess.
Ethan stood up and walked toward the voices. Victoria West was standing in the kitchen, perfectly dressed as always, surveying the apartment like it was a crime scene. Lena stood across from her, arms crossed, looking defensive. Ethan, Victoria said when she saw him.
How nice of you to join us. Mrs. West. I was just telling my daughter that she needs help, real help.
Not whatever this is. She gestured vaguely at him. Mother. You're exhausted, Lena.
You're not sleeping. You're not eating, and you're trying to raise a child while running a company. It's not sustainable. I'm managing.
Barely. Lena's jaw tightened. I'm fine. You're not fine.
You're falling apart, and he She pointed at Ethan. He's making it worse. Excuse me, Ethan said. Victoria turned to him.
You're in over your head, Mr. Cole. You can't even manage your own job, let alone help my daughter raise a child. How do you know about my job?
I know everything. It's my business to know. Lena stepped between them. Mother, that's enough.
Is it? Because from where I'm standing, you're drowning. And instead of accepting help from people who can actually provide it, you're clinging to some misguided idea of partnership with a man who's already proven he can't handle the pressure. That's not fair, Lena said.
It's the truth. Ethan felt his temper flare. With all due respect, Mrs. West, you don't know what you're talking about.
Don't I? You've missed work. You've dropped the ball on major projects. You're stretched so thin you can barely function.
How is that helping anyone? I'm doing my best. Your best isn't good enough. Mother, stop.
Lena's voice was sharp. You don't get to come in here and tear him apart. He's been here every day, every night, more than you have. Victoria's expression hardened.
I've been giving you space. That's what you asked for. No, you've been waiting for me to fail so you can swoop in and fix everything, but I don't need fixing. I need support.
And you think he's giving you that? Yes, he is. Victoria looked between them, her mouth a thin line. You're making a mistake, Lena.
Maybe. But it's my mistake to make. They stared at each other, the air thick with tension. Then Victoria picked up her purse and headed for the door.
When this falls apart, she said without looking back, don't say I didn't warn you. The door closed behind her. Lena stood there for a moment, her shoulders rigid. Then she exhaled and sat down at the kitchen table, her head in her hands.
I'm sorry, she said. For what? For her. For all of it.
Ethan sat down across from her. She's not wrong, you know. Lena looked up. What?
About me. I'm in over my head. I'm struggling. I did screw up at work today.
That doesn't mean it doesn't mean I'm leaving. But it means she has a point. Lena frowned. So, what are you saying?
I'm saying we need to figure this out. Really figure it out because right now we're barely holding it together. I know. So, what do we do?
Lena was quiet for a long moment. Then she said, "I don't know. But we can't keep going like this." The next week they sat down and made a plan. A real one.
Ethan would take Elena three nights a week. Lena would have her the other four. They'd alternate weekends. They'd split doctor's appointments and daycare drop-offs and middle-of-the-night emergencies.
It was clinical. It was organized. It was everything Ethan hated. But it worked.
Sort of. The first night Ethan had Elena alone, he brought her back to his apartment. Mia was in her room doing homework when he walked in. The car seat in one hand and a diaper bag in the other.
"She's staying here?" Mia asked, appearing in the doorway. "Yeah, three nights a week." "Where's she going to sleep?" Ethan looked around. He hadn't thought that far ahead. "Uh my room, I guess." "You don't have a crib." "I'll figure it out." Mia gave him a look.
"Dad, you can't just wing this." "Watch me." He set the car seat down and pulled out his phone, searching for same-day crib delivery. Mia sat down on the couch and watched him with a mix of amusement and concern. "You're a disaster," she said. "Thanks for the vote of confidence." "I'm serious.
You can't just bring a baby home with no plan." "I have a plan." "What's the plan?" "Keep her alive." Mia snorted. "That's not a plan. That's a bare minimum." Elena started fussing in the car seat. Ethan unbuckled her and picked her up, bouncing her gently.
She quieted, staring up at him with wide, unfocused eyes. "She likes you," Mia said. "Yeah?" "Yeah." "She doesn't cry as much when you hold her." Ethan looked down at Elena. "That's because I'm magic." "Or because you're her dad." "Same thing." Mia smiled.
Then she stood up and walked over, peering down at Elena. "Can I hold her?" "You don't have to ask." Mia took Elena carefully, cradling her the way Lena had shown her. She sat back down on the couch, staring at the baby with something like wonder on her face. "She's gotten bigger," Mia said.
"A little." "She looks more like you now." "Poor kid." Mia laughed. Then she looked up at him. "Are you okay? Like really okay?" Ethan sat down beside her.
"Honestly, I don't know. I'm tired. I'm stressed. I feel like I'm failing at everything." "You're not failing." "Tell that to my boss." "Your boss is an idiot." "He's not wrong, though.
I've been dropping the ball." Mia looked at him seriously. "Dad, you're doing the best you can. That's all anyone can do." "When did you get so wise?" "I've always been wise. You just don't listen." Ethan smiled.
"Fair point." They sat there for a while watching Elena sleep. The apartment was quiet except for the hum of the refrigerator and the faint sound of traffic outside. It felt normal. Almost.
"Dad," Mia said. "Yeah?" "I'm proud of you." Ethan looked at her, surprised. "Why?" "Because you didn't run." "You could have, but you didn't." "I'd never run from you." "I know, but you didn't run from her, either." Mia gestured to Elena. "And that's I don't know.