“You can tell me everything,” she said calmly. “The real story.”
And he did.
He told her about Laura, the accident, the silence, and the helplessness of watching his children drift away.
Sofia listened quietly before asking one question.
“Have you ever told your children that you’re hurting too?”
After an hour she set four conditions.
First, during work hours she would have full authority over the twins.
Second, she needed access to Laura’s locked bedroom.
“Pain that’s locked away becomes poison,” she said.
Third, the twins would attend therapy whether they wanted to or not.
And fourth, Ethan himself would begin therapy.
“You’re raising them inside your grief,” she said. “If you want to help them, you must heal too.”
Ethan had never heard anyone speak to him that directly.
“Do you agree,” she asked, “or should I leave?”
After a long pause, he nodded.
“I agree. When do you start?”
“Tomorrow. Seven a.m.”
That evening Ethan told the twins.
“We already have a plan for her,” Lily said confidently. “She’ll leave by Friday.”
“She’s not leaving,” Ethan replied. “She’ll stay until you don’t need her anymore.”
They stared at him.
“And you’re both going to therapy,” he added.
“No way!”