Chapter 17 - A Child's QuestionYears passed.
Leo, Maya, and Noah became teenagers.
They were different from one another.
Leo loved science.
Maya loved painting.
Noah loved animals.
But all three shared one thing.
They knew exactly where they came from.
They knew their biological mother had loved them.
They knew Olivia had fought for them.
And they knew Caleb had chosen them.
One evening, Noah asked a difficult question.
“Dad?”
Caleb looked up from his book.
“Yes?”
“Why did you help Mom?”
Caleb smiled.
“Because I saw someone who needed help.”
“That's it?”
“That was the beginning.”
Noah frowned.
“Then why did you marry her?”
Caleb looked toward the kitchen.
Olivia was laughing with Maya.
“Because I discovered she was the strongest person I'd ever met.”
Noah smiled.
“Did you know right away?”
“No.”
“What did you think?”
Caleb laughed.
“I thought she was stubborn.”
From the kitchen, Olivia called:
“I heard that!”
The family burst into laughter.
Later that night, Olivia sat on the porch beside Caleb.
“You know,” she said, “sometimes I still remember that bench.”
“I remember too.”
“I was certain that was the end of my life.”
Caleb took her hand.
“It was the beginning.”
She rested her head against his shoulder.
“I wish my sister could see them.”
“She does.”
Olivia looked at him.
“How can you know?”
Caleb pointed toward the garden.
The three children were outside laughing beneath the stars.
“She is part of them.”
May you like
Olivia smiled through tears.
That was enough.
