After she left, I opened the bakery bag and found four small cookies shaped like stars.

I took one home for each triplet and one for Eva.

The next morning I called Nadia to ask how we could begin planning introductions between the children, when the time was right.

It felt good to make a decision based on their future rather than my humiliation.

PART 19: A Different Kind of Family Photograph

Over the next several months, Callum attended the agreed visits.

The children began to recognize his car and, more importantly, to trust that he would arrive when he said he would.