Madeline opened the notebook carefully, her eyes landing right away on Julian’s familiar handwriting. “Are these... prayers?” she asked softly.
Lucy pressed her lips together, looking a little sad. “Yeah.”
“All of these are from Julian. He never believed in this kind of thing before, but because of you, every night when he couldn’t sleep, he knelt and prayed. There are two hundred and forty-eight pages. He did this for sixty-two days straight.”
Madeline stared at the thick stack of pages, every single one filled with Julian’s writing. Something shifted inside her, a feeling she couldn’t quite name.
“Julian knows he hurt you before. While you were missing, he was a mess. He was in pain every single day. His insomnia got so bad that even medication stopped working. The doctors don’t know what else to do for him. Last night, I even heard him say he thought he was dying. Madeline, please. Can you help him? I’m begging you.”
Madeline looked down, her lashes hiding her eyes. “I’ve talked this through with him already. I have my conditions, and he has his. We just couldn’t agree.”
“You want the kids back, don’t you?” Lucy guessed.
Madeline gave a small, silent nod. “Yeah.”
Lucy sighed. “Julian only said no because he’s trying to protect you. His grandfather would never let you take the kids, and honestly, he doesn’t even want you to see them. But Julian’s on your side. He’ll make sure you get to see the kids, but taking them home with you... that’s just not possible.”
She leaned in, her hand cool as she took Madeline’s. “Madeline, whatever happened, you and Julian were together for years. He’s still the father of your children. Please, I’m asking you, go help him. Please.”
Lucy’s face was filled with desperation. She looked like she’d run out of options, and there was real fear in her eyes that Julian might not make it.
Madeline ran her fingers over the smooth paper, thinking things through. After a moment, she nodded. “Okay. I’ll help him.”
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