Liam’s visit shook him, but he’d said his piece. They’re stubborn, but Mason’s their grandson. He kept it from Olivia, knowing she’d be angry. Her pain from their rejection was raw, and she’d sworn to keep them from Mason. Liam hoped they’d soften but focused on their family.
A week later, Olivia was feeding Mason when the doorbell rang. She expected a package but found Linda and Michael, looking uneasy. Her stomach tightened. What now?
“Hi, Olivia,” Michael said softly. “Can we come in? We owe you an apology.” Olivia hesitated, clutching Mason, then let them in.
Linda’s eyes fixed on Mason, cooing with applesauce on his face. “We were wrong,” she said, voice breaking. “We were so mad after Noah… we blamed you. But Ethan’s photo—Mason looks like him. We want to be in his life. Can we try?”
Olivia’s throat tightened. She wanted to lash out, but Mason giggled, waving a spoon, and her heart eased. “Okay,” she said quietly. “For Mason, not you. No drama.”
Linda nodded, tears falling. She offered a teddy bear. “For Mason.” He grabbed it, squealing, and Linda smiled. “He’s got Noah’s dimples,” she whispered. Michael knelt, chuckling as Mason tugged his finger.
Over coffee and a Mariano’s pie, they talked—stiff but honest. Michael shared Noah’s childhood stories, making Olivia laugh and cry. As they left, Linda promised, “We’ll be back. We want to be grandparents, if you’ll let us.”
When Liam got home, Olivia was buzzing. “You won’t believe it,” she said, excited. “They apologized, played with Mason, everything! He loved them—like he knew they were family. It’s such a relief.”
Liam grinned, hugging her. “Told you, spark. People come around.” He didn’t mention his visit, just kissed her forehead, proud it worked.
Life wasn’t perfect, but it was theirs. Olivia studied at DePaul, Liam worked shifts, and they took Mason for Grant Park walks. They faced challenges—bills, late nights, tantrums—but together, they were unstoppable. Olivia kept helping the unhoused in the underpass, her kindness a beacon. Fate gave her a family she never imagined, proof that after the darkest storms, light always shines.