Rain patters against the windows of Adam's apartment, the soft gray light casting long shadows in the cozy living room. Londyn sits cross-legged on the floor, organizing her new craft supplies into neat piles. Adam, meanwhile, is in the kitchen, unpacking groceries after their morning trip to the store.
The apartment is slowly transforming into a warm, lived-in space. Londyn's presence is evident everywhere—her art supplies stacked on a shelf, a pair of sneakers left by the door, and a drawing she made pinned to the fridge with a magnet.
"Hey, kiddo," Adam calls from the kitchen. "What do you want for lunch? Sandwiches or pasta?"
"Pasta!" Londyn replies with a grin, gluing rhinestones onto a plain wooden frame.
"Coming right up," Adam says. He hums softly as he pulls out a pot and fills it with water, the sound of it boiling blending with the rhythm of the rain outside.
As Londyn finishes her craft project, she notices Adam's badge and keys sitting on the coffee table near a decorative vase filled with fresh flowers. She picks up the badge, running her fingers over the shiny metal. It feels heavy in her small hands, a symbol of the important work her father does.
She decides to put the badge back where she found it but misjudges her reach. Her elbow accidentally brushes against the vase, sending it tumbling off the table. The crash echoes through the apartment as it shatters into a hundred tiny pieces.
Londyn freezes, her breath caught in her throat. The once-cozy apartment now feels stifling, the silence that follows the crash deafening. She stares at the broken vase, her hands trembling.
Adam hears the sound and rushes out of the kitchen. "Londyn? What happened?" His voice is calm but firm, his eyes scanning the room before landing on the broken vase.
"I-I'm sorry," Londyn stammers, backing away from the mess. Tears pool in her eyes, and her voice cracks. "It was an accident. I didn't mean to! Please don't be mad at me."
Adam crouches down by the shards of the vase, his expression softening as he looks at her trembling form. He remembers Renae telling him about Londyn's past—the neglect, the yelling, the constant threat of being sent away if she made a mistake. This isn't about the vase, he realizes. This is about her fear of being punished or abandoned.
"Londyn," Adam says gently, keeping his voice low and steady. "It's okay. I'm not mad."
Her tears spill over as she shakes her head. "But I broke it! I wasn't careful, and now it's ruined. You're gonna yell at me... or send me back."
Adam's heart twists. He walks over to her slowly, giving her space, and kneels down so they're at eye level. "Hey, look at me," he says softly. Londyn hesitates, then lifts her watery brown eyes to meet his. "It's just a vase. That's all. It's not important. You are."
Londyn blinks at him, her tears slowing as confusion flickers across her face. "You're... not mad?"
"Not even a little," Adam says with a small smile. "Accidents happen. I've broken way worse things before. Once, I dropped a whole box of donuts on the floor at work. You should've seen Voight's face."
That draws a small giggle from Londyn, though she quickly covers her mouth, as if laughing is somehow wrong in this moment. Adam notices and gently places a hand on her shoulder.
"You don't have to be scared, Londyn," he says, his tone serious but kind. "This is your home now. You don't have to be perfect, and you don't have to worry about me getting rid of you. You're my daughter, and nothing's going to change that."
Her lip trembles again, but this time, it's not from fear. Slowly, she steps closer to Adam and wraps her arms around his neck, burying her face in his shoulder. "I'm sorry," she whispers.
Adam hugs her tightly, his hand rubbing gentle circles on her back. "You don't need to be sorry, kiddo. I've got you."
After a few moments, Londyn pulls back, sniffling but looking a little calmer. Adam smiles at her. "How about we clean this up together? Then we'll figure out where to put the flowers. Deal?"
Londyn nods, wiping her eyes with the sleeve of her sweatshirt. Adam grabs a dustpan and broom from the closet, and they work side by side to sweep up the broken pieces of the vase. Londyn is careful, picking up the larger shards and placing them in the trash while Adam handles the smaller fragments.
As they finish, Adam hands her the bouquet of flowers from the vase. "What do you think? Should we put these in a jar or a mug for now?"
Londyn considers this, then brightens. "A mug! The one with the puppies on it."
"Good choice," Adam says, retrieving the mug from the cabinet. He fills it with water and places the flowers inside, setting it on the kitchen counter. "There. Good as new."
After cleaning up the vase shards, Adam returned to the kitchen, rolling up his sleeves. He glanced over at Londyn, who was still hovering near the counter, clutching her stuffed bear.
"Hey, how about you help me finish making that pasta?" he suggested, his voice warm.
Londyn's eyes widened. "You want me to help?"
"Of course," Adam said, gesturing toward the counter. "Cooking's more fun when you've got a sous-chef. Plus, I could use an expert's opinion on the sauce."
Tentatively, Londyn set her bear on a chair and approached the kitchen. Adam handed her a wooden spoon and pointed to the bubbling pot of pasta sauce. "Give it a stir while I check on the noodles."
Londyn reached up and began stirring, her movements slow and careful. The aroma of tomatoes, garlic, and herbs filled the air, mingling with the sound of the rain outside.
"You're a natural," Adam said, glancing over his shoulder. "Want to add the basil?"
Londyn nodded, a small smile creeping onto her face. Adam handed her a handful of fresh basil leaves, and she tore them into smaller pieces before dropping them into the sauce.
"Perfect," Adam said, giving her a wink. "Now let's check the noodles."
Together, they drained the pasta and combined it with the sauce, Londyn giggling as Adam twirled a stray noodle onto his fork and tasted it. "What do you think?" he asked her.
"It's really good," Londyn said, her smile growing. "Can I try?"
Adam handed her the fork, and she took a bite, nodding enthusiastically. "This might be the best pasta ever," she declared.
"That's because you made it," Adam said with a grin.
They plated the pasta together, adding a sprinkle of cheese on top. Sitting down at the table, Adam raised his glass of water. "To the best chef I've ever worked with," he said.
Londyn giggled again, clinking her glass against his. "To the best dad," she replied softly.
Over lunch, Londyn seems lighter, her laughter more genuine. She tells Adam about her craft project and even jokes about making him a "World's Best Dad" picture frame. Adam grins, his heart swelling with pride and affection for his brave, resilient daughter.
Later that evening, as they settle on the couch to watch a movie, Londyn leans against Adam's side, holding her new stuffed bear. "Thanks for not being mad," she says quietly.
Adam presses a kiss to the top of her head. "Anytime, kiddo. And remember, no matter what happens, you can always come to me. We're a team, okay?"
Londyn nods, her smile soft but filled with a newfound confidence. "Okay."
As the rain continues to fall outside, Adam feels a deep sense of peace. He may not have known about Londyn for the first nine years of her life, but he's determined to make every moment from now on count.