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“A re you sure Caleb will be okay by himself?” I ask.

Julie looks up from the stack of papers she’s sifting through.

“He’s not alone. The two camp counselors outside will keep an eye on him.

” She walks around her desk to stand next to me at the window.

“Caleb’s gone through a lot, but he’s resilient.

It might take him some time to engage with the other kids, but he’ll warm up to them eventually.

Like the therapist said, if watching them from a distance makes him feel safe, that’s perfectly okay. ”

We’re at the elementary school for an open house, and Julie was kind enough to drive us and give us a private tour. She’s briefed the camp staff on Caleb’s situation, and in the few interactions he’s had so far, they’ve gone out of their way to make him feel at ease and included.

While we were outside earlier, he was intrigued by a group of kids on the playground and stayed put when I asked if he wanted to come to Julie’s office with us. Now I’ve officially entered helicopter parent status—eyes glued to him through the window, ready to swoop in if he needs me.

Caleb remains standing on the edge of the playground but has moved closer to the sandbox where a few kids are playing. I watch as he takes a tentative step forward but then hesitates, pulling back like he’s decided against getting closer.

“It’s hard not to feel like I’m letting him down by leaving him out there. What if the other kids start bullying him when they find out he doesn’t speak?”

Julie gives my arm a reassuring squeeze. “I wouldn’t have recommended you move to Bluebell if I didn’t believe it was the best place for him. Once he gets into the swing of things and starts meeting with his new therapist, he’ll find his footing.”

I know she’s right, but my instinct is to keep Caleb in a protective bubble, away from anything that could hurt him.

Part of me wonders if we should’ve stayed in New York and hired private tutors and nannies to come to the house so he wouldn’t have to socialize.

It’s not a practical solution, but that hasn’t stopped it from crossing my mind.

I sigh. “Why does everything have to be so complex?”

Julie gives me a knowing smile. “Welcome to parenthood, where second-guessing every decision is a full-time job. It doesn’t end, even when your kids get older. If anything, it only intensifies.”

“Fantastic,” I deadpan.

I’m glad I get to spend a lifetime overthinking every decision regarding my son. Exactly what every new parent wants to hear.

“What happens when I make a mistake?”

“Every parent does, more than they’d like to admit, but kids forgive easily. All they want is to feel loved and safe.”

“I love Caleb,” I state.

More than I thought possible in such a short amount of time.

We have a long summer ahead, but I’m committed to proving he belongs with me long-term. I’ll move heaven and earth to make it happen, because now that I have him, there’s no way I could ever let him go.

“He’s lucky to have you,” Julie says with conviction. “We’ll get through this, I promise.”

Moments like this remind me why I love her and the Halstead family.

They were there when my parents gambled away their life savings, and we had to move into the trailer park.

Julie converted her sewing room into a bedroom so I could have a peaceful place to study and sleep when my parents’ arguments became too chaotic at our place.

Even after being gone for fourteen years, the Halsteads still treat me like one of their own, and I’ll forever be grateful.

“How was your first night at the cottage?” Julie asks, making me appreciate the change in topic.

“It’s definitely a fixer-upper. The plan is to renovate the space and turn it into another rental, but Briar is determined to do it herself, and it’s taking longer than she’d like.

Between the cabins and her volunteer work, she hasn’t been able to give it much attention. ”

“Yeah, she mentioned that yesterday. Sounds like she’s got her hands full. But even though it’s an older house, she maintains it well.” I glance over at Julie, who’s listening intently. “She went out of her way to give Caleb’s room a makeover to surprise him when we arrived.”

Unlike his remodeled room, mine is bare bones with an old twin mattress, a rickety nightstand, and pastel pink wallpaper that appears to be original to the house.

I rub my neck, remembering my uncomfortable night on a lumpy mattress.

It’s a drastic change from the memory foam bed at my penthouse.

The grandfather clock in the hallway chimed every fifteen minutes, each one dragging me further from rest.

Even with my lack of sleep, I realize in hindsight that Briar’s gesture meant more than I gave her credit for.

Last night, I couldn’t help but wonder if Caleb would have opened up more if I’d been the one to hang up the wallpaper or install the shelf of books.

But now I understand that it’s not a competition.

The whole reason I came to Bluebell was to have a support system.

Not to prove that I can do it all alone.

If the past week has taught me anything, it’s that I can’t.

Julie takes a seat on the edge of her desk.

“That sounds like Briar. She has a soft spot for kids, and I’m sure she was just trying to make the change feel less overwhelming for him.

” I lean against the wall with my arms folded, unwilling to move from the window and lose sight of Caleb.

“One thing you’ll learn quickly is that it takes a village to raise a child,” she says, holding my gaze.

“You may want to handle it all yourself, but it’s okay to accept help.

It doesn’t mean you love Caleb any less. ”

I swipe a hand across my face. “He’s still guarded around me, and it threw me off to see how quickly he warmed up to Briar.”

The thought’s crossed my mind that he might be more at ease with her because she’s a woman. His mom raised him, and from what I know, she wasn’t in a serious relationship during the past five years. It makes sense he’d be wary of me, but that doesn’t make it sting any less.

“I’m afraid he’ll decide he doesn’t want me as his dad and beg not to stay with me after the summer.” It’s my biggest fear.

Julie’s mouth curves into an amused smile. “Jensen, he’s five. Only a week ago, you were strangers. Besides, even if he didn’t want you—tough luck. You’re the only dad he’s got, and that’s a permanent deal.”

I like the sound of that last part.

When I look out the window again, Caleb is sitting at the edge of the sandbox, his fingers tracing patterns in the sand while he observes the other kids building a giant mound using their buckets.

“All I want is for him to be happy,” I say to Julie .

When I glance over, she’s grinning. “And that’s how I know the two of you will be just fine.”

She has more confidence in me than I have in myself.

“Have you thought about who is going to look after Caleb in the afternoons? I wish I could take him, but starting tomorrow, I’ll be at the school until four on weekdays.”

“I haven’t. My priority was getting here and making sure we got settled in. If I have to take more time off until I figure it out, I will.”

I’ll have to return to work sooner rather than later, though.

With a new product launching soon, I’ll be heavily involved in the final stages of development.

Fortunately, being the boss means I can oversee things remotely until we head back to New York at the end of the summer.

In the meantime, Carlton, my chief operations officer, will manage any in-person meetings while I’m away.

“There’s a daycare on Main Street that offers pickups from the summer program. I’m friends with the owner if you’d like me to put in a good word,” Julie offers.

I wince at the idea of leaving Caleb in another strange environment with unfamiliar faces and limited staff to give him the patience and attention he deserves.

“At the school, I know he’s in good hands because you’re here,” I say, gesturing around us. “I can’t say the same for a daycare I don’t know or trust.”

“Don’t worry, we’ll find another option,” she promises me. “It might just take a while since most Bluebell residents work full-time, so finding a nanny or babysitter could be challenging.”

That’s one perk of living in the city—there’s no shortage of nannies, and finding someone with a flexible schedule is a breeze. My assistant had a baby last year and told me how lucky she was with all the options available when searching for childcare.

Julie clasps her hands together, an idea sparking in her eyes. “What about Briar? She’s usually finished with cabin repairs by early afternoon, and I’m sure Heath could give her a break from helping around the ranch.”

I instantly shake my head. “I couldn’t ask her to do that.”

She probably isn’t inclined to do me any favors after my initial reaction to her thoughtful gesture last night.

Yes, I was quick to apologize, but that doesn’t undo the fact that I got upset when she was only trying to help.

I might be a family friend, but that doesn’t mean she owes me anything.

Besides, she already has more than enough on her plate without me asking her to drop everything to take care of Caleb.

Julie rises and joins me at the window again, smiling as she looks out at Caleb. “Don’t overthink it. Just an option to keep in mind.”

I loop my arm around her shoulders, drawing her into a side hug. “I’d be lost without you.”

“We’re all here for you, Jensen.”

“Thank you.”

I can’t imagine where Caleb and I would be without the Halsteads.