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He set down his briefcase and walked closer. His first instinct was to wake her and remind her of boundaries, but then he saw Emma’s tiny hand clutching Maria’s sleeve and Ethan’s small head resting on her arm. Their faces, peaceful and content, spoke louder than any rulebook could.
Maria stirred, blinking awake. “Mr. Bennett! I’m so sorry,” she gasped, sitting up quickly. “They wouldn’t sleep without me. I tried everything — the crib, the rocking chair — but they cried until they were sick. I must’ve fallen asleep.”
“It’s all right,” he said quietly after a pause. “We’ll talk in the morning.”
He turned away, but as he climbed the stairs, the image lingered in his mind — his children, peaceful at last, in the arms of someone who clearly loved them.
