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Taking a deep breath, I turned and started jogging home.

When I got back to the house, I found my girls in the living room as Liv curled Maya’s hair at the coffee table. I’d asked them about it once but got a longwinded explanation about how doing hair in front of the TV is better. They both looked up at me, and Liv said, “Don’t move, Maya! I’ll burn you!”

Then Graham barked at Liv like he was yelling at her for yelling at Maya, and both the girls laughed.

“It’s okay, Graham,” Liv said.

I smiled at them, wishing it could always be like this, just the three of us. “Why don’t you put that curling iron down? I have something to ask you about, Maya.”

Liv set the iron aside, and Maya leaned back against Liv’s legs, slinging her arms over Liv’s knees. “What’s up, Daddy-o?”

“Daddy-o?” I asked with a chuckle.

“That’s what Lyssa calls her dad.”

I shook my head as I went and sat on the chair to talk to her. “I just spoke with your mother, and she asked if it was okay that she bring her new boyfriend to your birthday party.”

Maya got quiet, and I swore I could feel Liv holding her breath.

“What did you say?” Maya finally asked.

“I told her it was up to you.”

Maya bit the side of her fingernail for a moment before finally saying, “That’s okay. He can come.”

“Are you sure?” I asked. “Because if you’re uncomfortable at all, I will tell her no. You can meet him another time.”

Maya shook her head. “If you tell her no, she might not come.”

My heart wrenched in my chest. “She says she’s trying to do better to be there for you, and she asked if you could go stay with her for a few days after your party. I said it was up to you if you wanted to go.”

“I can go stay with Mommy?”

I nodded, surprised by how excited she was. Children forgave so quickly, especially the people they loved. We didn’t deserve it.

“I want to go,” she said quickly.

“We’ll make it happen.” I gave her a hug, then got up. “I’m going to take a shower before we go to the party.”

As I walked toward the bedroom, Liv said, “Maya, why don’t you take Graham out for a potty break?”

“Okay.” Maya went to the door, her poufy puppy trailing behind her.

I continued to the bathroom, but Liv said, “Wait, Fletcher.”

“What?” I asked, my nerves already strained.

She paused, her brow creasing. “I mean, are you really going to let Maya stay with her mom after everything?”

“What can I do?” I asked. “Tell her no? Wait for a lawyer to reopen our custody case?”

Liv worried her hands. “I didn’t realize that was at risk...”

“No, because you’re not her parent.”

She recoiled, and I instantly felt guilty.

“Liv, I’m sorry, I just—”