As weeks passed, the atmosphere in the house slowly began to shift. There were still moments of tension, but they became less frequent, replaced by tentative conversations and even moments of laughter. Clara began to warm up to Jace again, albeit slowly, though there were times when it was obvious that things between them would never be the same. But they were finding a new rhythm, and that was all Lena could ask for.
One afternoon, Lena and Jace were sitting in the backyard, the sun casting long shadows across the grass. It was one of those rare moments when everything felt normal, when the weight of the world didn't seem to hang over them.
"I'm glad we did this," Jace said, his voice quiet, almost reflective. "That we're trying to make things work. With Clara. With everything."
Lena smiled, her heart swelling with a mixture of relief and hope. "Me too. It's not going to be easy. But I think... I think we're getting there."
Jace leaned back, stretching his arms out behind him. "I don't know what the future holds, but I know that no matter what happens, I'll always be here. For you. And for Clara. I don't want to lose either of you."
Lena's breath caught, and for a moment, she felt the weight of their shared past and the uncertain future ahead of them. But as she looked at Jace—really looked at him—she felt a quiet certainty settling within her.
"Neither do I," she whispered, reaching for his hand. "Neither do I."