The next morning arrived with the soft sound of birds chirping outside, but inside the house, there was a quiet tension that lingered. Roman had tried to be as present as possible, but he could tell that the weight of the previous night still hung in the air, especially with Joelle.

He had woken up early to make breakfast, hoping that the simple act of doing something for them might break the ice. Malachi had been up first, as usual, running into the kitchen with his messy hair and tired eyes. His smile was the same, bright and warm, and it did something to Roman's heart-making him want to promise he would never break this family again.

"Morning, Daddy!" Malachi called out, his voice a little hoarse from sleep.

Roman couldn't help but smile as he ruffled his son's hair. "Good morning, champ. How'd you sleep?"

Malachi nodded. "Good. I like it here."

Roman's heart swelled at that. He loved hearing Malachi talk about the house like it was a safe space. It was a feeling he'd missed, a feeling he wasn't sure he deserved after all the time he'd been gone.

Isabella came into the kitchen a few moments later, her eyes still tired but soft as she met Roman's gaze. The silence between them hadn't been as thick today, which was a small victory, but he knew it would take more than just a couple of good mornings to bridge the distance between them.

Joelle came into the kitchen last, her steps hesitant as she avoided Roman's gaze. She hadn't said much since the night before, but he could see the hurt still in her eyes. He hadn't expected her to open up right away, but that didn't stop the ache he felt when she wouldn't even look his way.

"Morning, Joelle," he said softly, trying his best not to push her.

She gave him a quick glance, but her expression remained guarded. "Morning," she muttered, taking a seat at the table and focusing on the cereal in front of her.

Roman took a deep breath, trying to keep his frustration in check. The last thing he wanted to do was make her feel cornered, but it was hard not to want to fix everything in one go.

"How about we take Malachi to the park today?" Isabella suggested, her tone light and neutral. "Maybe we could all go. Get some fresh air."

Roman nodded. "That sounds good. Joelle, you up for it?"

Joelle didn't answer right away, her eyes fixed on her cereal. But after a long pause, she looked up, meeting his eyes for a brief moment.

"Maybe," she said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper.

Roman's heart sank, but he nodded. He wasn't going to push her. He had to let her come to him on her own terms.

After breakfast, they all bundled into the car, Malachi happily chatting about the swings and how fast he could go. Joelle sat in the back seat, her gaze out the window, lost in her thoughts. Roman kept sneaking glances at her, hoping for some sign that she was ready to talk, but she kept to herself.

When they arrived at the park, the air was fresh, and the sky was clear. Malachi immediately ran for the swings, his laughter echoing through the open space. Roman followed him, keeping a close eye on his son as he played, but his thoughts kept drifting to Joelle.

She was sitting on a nearby bench, her arms crossed, staring at the ground. It was clear she wasn't fully present. He walked over to her slowly, his heart in his throat as he tried to find the right words.

"Hey," he said softly, sitting down beside her. "How are you doing?"

Joelle didn't look at him, but he could see the tension in her posture. "I'm fine," she replied, though her voice betrayed her.

Roman sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Joelle, I'm not going to push you, but I want you to know I'm here. Whenever you're ready to talk, I'm ready to listen."

Joelle finally looked at him, her expression hard. "I don't know how to trust you again," she said quietly. "I don't know how to believe that you're really here for us now."

Roman swallowed hard. "I get it. I know I've messed up, but I swear to you, I'm not going anywhere. I've made mistakes, but I'm going to make it right. One day at a time."

For a moment, Joelle didn't respond. She just stared at him, her eyes filled with emotion that she was trying to hide. Then, in a quiet voice, she spoke again. "I just don't want to get hurt again."

Roman's heart ached. "I would never hurt you, Joelle. I know I did, but I'm not the same person anymore. I've changed, and I'm here to prove it to you. I don't care how long it takes, I'm not giving up on us."

Joelle's eyes softened for a brief moment before she turned away, her gaze back on Malachi. "I don't know if I'm ready," she whispered. "But maybe... maybe I can try."

Roman let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. "That's all I ask for."

They sat there in silence for a while, watching Malachi run around with a carefree joy that seemed so out of place with the heaviness between them. But for the first time, Roman felt a small shift. Maybe they weren't as broken as he'd thought. Maybe they could start rebuilding. It wouldn't be easy, and it wouldn't happen overnight, but he was willing to fight for them.

And that, he knew, was the first step.