“Daddy!”
Oliver ran toward me, his little arms outstretched. I scooped him up, holding him close, and in that moment, everything else faded.
Ultimately, I made it clear to Natalie that while I wasn’t going to take Oliver away, things had to change. Her actions had crossed a line that couldn’t be ignored. Together, we agreed to counseling to address the fractures in our co-parenting relationship.
Mike, to his credit, had stepped up where Natalie had faltered. It wasn’t easy to accept someone else playing a fatherly role in my son’s life, but Mike’s honesty and support proved he had Oliver’s best interests at heart.
Back home, I realized the long-distance arrangement was no longer sustainable. I needed to be closer to my son—not just for holidays or nightly calls, but every single day.
As I scrolled through job listings, I made a vow to myself and to Oliver.
“Never again,” I murmured. “I’m not letting distance keep us apart.”
The next chapter of our lives was just beginning, and this time, I wouldn’t let anything—or anyone—get in the way.
