The next morning, Helen arrived with her two boys, Henry and Hunter, at Ronald's family home.
"Hey, sis, you're finally here!" Ronald greeted warmly at the door. "Brother isn't home at the moment, but come on in."
"Amelia, bring some snacks and tea for Helen, and some juice for the kids," Ronald called out to his wife as he ushered them inside. He glanced around curiously. "Where's your husband? I don't see him."
Helen sighed as she removed her coat. "He's out of the country for a while. Work. He probably won't be back for at least a month."
The kids, clearly overjoyed to visit their fun-loving maternal uncle, plopped down on the couch and immediately got engrossed in a hero cartoon. Juice boxes in hand, their faces lit up with unbridled happiness.
Ronald chuckled at the sight and teased them, "Henry, Hunter, not even a hello for your poor uncle? Sigh... kids these days. Maybe I should just save my money and buy a new football for Dave instead..."
The boys perked up instantly. They scrambled off the couch, rushing to their uncle's side.
"Uncle, don't say that!" Henry whined.
"You have no idea how tired we are!" Hunter added with a dramatic flourish. "Mom didn't let us sit for one moment—clean this, pack that. We've been running around all day! We're just relieved to finally be here. How could we not greet you?"
"Yeah," Henry chimed in, handing his juice to Ronald. "Here, Uncle, you can have my juice. Don't be angry!"
Ronald burst into laughter and ruffled their hair. "Good kids. I knew you wouldn't let me down. Don't worry, I'll get you that football later today."
Helen rolled her eyes at the theatrics. "Alright, enough with the drama, you two. Go back to your cartoon. I need to talk to your uncle."
The boys obediently returned to the couch, settling in with their drinks.
Helen turned to Ronald, her tone more serious now. "Ronald, I need a place to stay. Things at home... they've gotten complicated. I had to leave. Isn't the building next door vacant?"
Ronald's expression softened. He'd always had a soft spot for his older sister. Helen had practically raised him and their brother Roger after their father passed away. She'd been just a teenager at the time but had worked tirelessly alongside their grandmother to ensure the family survived.
"You don't need to worry about that, Helen," Ronald assured her. "The building's empty, and you can move in anytime. I'll talk to Roger tonight, but I know he'll agree."
Helen's face lit up with relief. "Thank you, Ronald. You've always been there for me. I'll bring my stuff tomorrow at the latest. Oh, and watch these two troublemakers for me, will you? Love you, bro!"
Before Ronald could respond, she was already out the door, yelling her thanks as she ran down the street.
"She still acts like a kid sometimes," Ronald muttered, shaking his head with a fond smile.
That night, Ronald explained the situation to Roger over dinner. As expected, Roger didn't hesitate. "Of course, she can move in. It's the least we can do after everything she's done for us."
The next day, the adjacent house was cleaned and ready. Helen and her boys moved in, their belongings unpacked by the afternoon. Life settled into a peaceful rhythm over the next six months.
Roger, though still prone to drinking, had mellowed. His drunken episodes no longer spiraled into chaos—he'd come home, collapse onto the couch, and sleep it off. For Dave, that was enough. In a home full of quiet tensions and fragile hope, even small mercies felt like victories.
Year end..