Josh sat up sleepily at the back when the car slowed to a stop in front of Jamal’s building.

"Are we home?"

Jamal laughed softly. "Yeah, champ. We’re home."

Jamal got out of the car and lifted Josh out, before joining Dawn. Together they all headed for the door.

The moment they stepped fully into the house, the smell hit Jamal immediately.

Food.

Real homemade food.

He stopped walking almost instantly.

Dawn smiled knowingly beside him.

Jamal frowned slightly. "Wait..."

Josh was already excitedly running deeper into the house again.

"Daddy! Somebody is cooking!"

Jamal looked towards Dawn suspiciously. "Did you cook before leaving to pick me up?"

Dawn bit back a smile. "Maybe."

Jamal narrowed his eyes slightly. "No. This smells too fresh. And it’s sort of familiar."

Before Dawn could respond, soft, familiar laughter floated out from the kitchen.

Jamal’s eyes widened slightly as he turned toward the kitchen.

A second later, Candace walked out carrying a bowl in her hands.

She wore simple cream trousers and an old hoodie with the sleeves folded slightly.

Her hair was packed loosely behind her head.

And for the first time in a very long while, she looked less like the intimidating lawyer everyone feared and more like... simply his mother—the single mother who had raised him with Aunt Andy.

Jamal blinked. "Mum?"

Candace laughed softly at his expression. "Welcome home, darling."

Jamal stared at her for another second before finally laughing in disbelief.

"What are you doing here?"

Candace set the bowl down carefully on the counter.

"Welcoming my precious son home from his trip."

Jamal shook his head slowly while smiling.

Then immediately he looked toward Dawn accusingly. "You knew."

Dawn burst into laughter immediately.

Candace laughed too. "Don’t blame her. I told her not to tell you."

Jamal looked between both women helplessly. "I leave for barely one day and everybody starts planning secret meetings behind my back." 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

Dawn giggled softly.

Candace walked closer and cupped his face gently for a second. "You look exhausted."

Jamal’s smile softened slightly. "I am."

Candace’s expression softened too.

Then before they could say more, Josh suddenly came running back into the living room again.

"Grandma, I’m hungry!"

Candace laughed immediately and bent slightly just in time for Josh to hug her legs.

"Dinner is almost ready. Let’s go get you something to munch on while your daddy freshens up, okay?"

Josh grinned brightly. "Okay."

Jamal stared at all three of them for a moment, and warmth spread through his chest.

Candace noticed the look on his face immediately, and her chest tightened softly.

For years, Jamal had always looked so composed, mature, and independent. Sometimes she forgot that he was still her son.

But right now, looking at him standing there smiling softly at them, all she could think about was how much of his life she had missed between pursuing her law degree, starting a new family, and establishing her place in her career.

"Go freshen up," Candace said gently after a moment. "Dinner is almost ready."

Jamal smiled at her. "Yes, ma’am."

Josh immediately grabbed his hand. "I want to see your room again!"

Jamal laughed softly. "I thought you were hungry."

"I will eat later."

Dawn shook her head fondly. "Josh..."

"Don’t worry about it," Jamal said with a chuckle as he lifted Josh into his arms and headed for his bedroom.

Dawn smiled as she watched both of them disappear upstairs.

Candace stood quietly beside her for a second. Then softly, she said, "Thank you."

Dawn looked at her. "For what?"

"For suggesting that I do this."

Dawn smiled softly. "It’s nothing to thank me for."

Candace exhaled slowly. "He looks happy."

"He is," Dawn replied gently. "Very happy."

Candace’s eyes softened slightly. Then she turned back toward the kitchen quickly before Dawn could notice how emotional her eyes suddenly looked.

Dawn went in search of Jamal and Josh.

A while later, they all sat together at the dining table.

Josh talked nonstop through almost the entire meal.

Jamal laughed happily as he listened to Josh and exchanged amused glances with Dawn and his mother.

Candace quietly watched him while pretending to focus on her food. And the more she watched him, the guiltier she felt.

Because despite how absent she had been, he still looked at her with so much warmth and love.

Not once had he ever made her feel like she failed him. And somehow that made her feel even worse.

"What are you thinking about, Mom?" Jamal asked suddenly, pulling her from her thoughts.

Candace blinked slightly. "What?"

"You keep staring at me. Are you that shocked that you gave birth to such a good-looking man? I mean, you should be used to that by now," Jamal teased.

Dawn laughed out loud, and Josh giggled too, even though he didn’t understand why.

"I’m actually more surprised you still eat this much," Candace said with a giggle.

Dawn laughed harder.

Jamal looked offended. "I barely even ate anything."

"You’ve had three servings," Dawn exposed immediately.

Jamal pointed at her accusingly. "You’re supposed to support me."

"I support the truth."

Jamal scowled, then turned to his mother, "You can hardly blame me. What did you expect? It’s my favourite. And it’s been ages since you made it."

"This is your favourite meal?" Dawn asked, looking down at the spicy peanut noodles on her plate.

"Yeah. I used to eat it a lot growing up."

Candace smiled, feeling a pang of guilt. She’d not made it ever since she found out Mila was allergic to peanut butter.

It had not occurred to her to make it specially for Jamal. She’d totally forgotten about it until Dawn suggested she make dinner for Jamal so she can have time to speak with him.

Now she regretted that she’d not paid attention enough to Jamal to make it for him, not even on his birthdays over the years.

She felt like a terrible mother.

By the time they finished eating, Josh was already half asleep again in his chair.

Dawn smiled softly as she wiped his mouth gently. "I think somebody is done for today."

Josh nodded sleepily.

Jamal chuckled softly and carried him up easily. Josh immediately rested against his chest comfortably.

Dawn rose slowly from her chair. "Why don’t you tuck him in while I clear the dishes?"

"Sure," Jamal said, then kissed her before walking away with Josh.

Candace watched the scene quietly.

Again, that painful guilt tightened in her chest.

Jamal really was a good father. A very good man. And she had missed so much of the boy who became this man.

Dawn smiled softly as she turned to Candace. "You can gather your thoughts while I clean up. When he gets back, you can talk to him."

"Thank you so much, Dawn. I’m glad I talked to you," Candace said.

Dawn smiled and gave her a nod, but said nothing as she stacked the dishes together before leaving for the kitchen.

By the time Jamal got back, Dawn was still in the kitchen, and his mum was still seated at the dining table.

Jamal went into the kitchen to assist Dawn.

"No. I can handle this. Go join your mum. She wants to talk to you."

Jamal looked at her. "About what?"

"You will only find out when you talk to her," Dawn said with a soft smile.

Then finally, he nodded slowly. "Okay."