Hope tried to show Derek exactly what she could no longer safely do, even writing down the household and childcare tasks she needed him to handle. When he refused, saying he wasn’t doing “shifts” in his own home, Hope stopped arguing. She packed a diaper bag, called her mother Noelle, and took the twins to stay with her. She made it clear she wasn’t ending their marriage—she simply needed somewhere she could recover without risking further injury.
At first, Derek seemed more concerned about how Hope’s departure looked than what had caused it. But his own mother challenged him, asking why his injured wife had to leave her home just to receive help. During a later visit, Miles began crying, and instead of automatically handing the baby to Hope, Derek picked him up himself. After patiently adjusting his hold and walking around the room, he finally calmed his son and realized Hope wasn’t naturally better at parenting—she had simply learned through months of doing nearly everything herself.
Over the following weeks, Derek began leaving work earlier twice a week, learning the twins’ routines, attending appointments, and taking responsibility without waiting to be asked. When Hope eventually started bringing her belongings home, she told him she would never again wait until she was physically broken before asking for support. One evening, when Miles cried from the nursery, Derek immediately recognized his tired cry and went to comfort him. Hope remained seated with her tea in her hands, realizing that for the first time in months, it was still warm.
