Swapping a Broken Heart for a New Start novel Chapter 146

It took just a few minutes.

Lillian was already holding her fork and knife with steady little hands, managing to get her veggies onto her plate without any trouble.

The little one was beaming with pride, grinning up at Dennis Williams. “Thanks, Uncle Dennis!”

Dennis gave her nose a gentle tap. “You’re welcome, kiddo.”

Camila Davis had been watching all this from across the dining table, only now realizing—maybe a little guiltily—that she’d completely dropped the ball as a mom.

How could she have let Mr. Williams take over something like this?

But then again, she could see it—he’d been gently guiding Lillian, encouraging her to do the things she was perfectly capable of.

He treated her like a regular kid, not making extra allowances just because she was on the autism spectrum.

Camila couldn’t help but admit to herself that she’d never been that good at it. When it came to her daughter, she always wanted to make things easier, to shield her from any bumps or mishaps.

She’d gotten into the habit of doing everything for her, without even thinking.

But maybe that was exactly what was holding Lillian back from exploring on her own.

As if reading her mind, Dennis kept up the gentle encouragement—offering hints here and there as Lillian tried new things, like peeling her own shrimp.

By the time lunch was over, Lillian had managed to peel a shrimp all by herself. It wasn’t perfect—some of the shells were still clinging stubbornly—but for her, it was a huge leap forward.

Dennis didn’t hold back on the praise. “That’s awesome! Next time, you can try peeling them at home, too. Just be careful not to poke your fingers, okay?”

Lillian nodded, her face lighting up with joy.

Watching them, Camila felt a bittersweet surge of gratitude. “Thank you, Mr. Williams.”

Dennis glanced at her, raising an eyebrow. “Noticed, did you?”

Camila nodded.

How could she not notice? He’d been encouraging Lillian every step of the way, always positive, always patient.

Dennis explained quietly, “Lillian isn’t really a candidate for intense therapy right now. She needs gentle, gradual encouragement—little nudges that help her discover her own feelings and emotions. Looks like it’s working.”

Camila nodded emphatically.

Working? It was like Lillian had made more progress in one afternoon than she had in the past year!

When lunch wrapped up, Camila felt a little reluctant to leave Dennis’s company. Part of her wished Lillian could spend even more time with him—maybe that would speed up her recovery.

Just then, her phone buzzed in her purse.

He nodded. “I was having lunch with Ms. Davis and thought I’d check in, too.”

His tone was warm, but the calm, deep pitch of his voice always seemed to create a little distance.

Despite being older, the Adamses couldn’t help but show him a bit of respect. “Thank you for everything you’ve done for Helen—especially for introducing Ms. Davis. She’s made a real difference.”

Dennis shook his head. “No need to thank me, really. I promised Juan Adams I’d look out for the family. If anything, I’m like a big brother to Helen.”

They paused for a moment, glancing toward the bedroom, their worry for their daughter outweighing any further conversation.

Luckily, Camila was as skilled as ever. In less than an hour, Helen’s fever had broken and she was alert again.

As Camila sat by the bed, packing up her medical kit, she couldn’t help but ask, “You were doing so well lately. What happened this time? Did you do something you weren’t supposed to?”

Helen looked a little guilty, but Camila’s stern gaze left no room for lies.

“I… I went out to see my boyfriend today. We just held hands, that’s all. I thought it would be okay, but…”

Her voice trembled, eyes shiny with tears. “Camila, am I ever going to get better? Will I ever be able to date like a normal person?”

Camila’s patience snapped a little. The thing she hated most was patients who ignored her instructions.

She made her voice firm, hoping Helen would remember this lesson. “I told you—one month of treatment before you can be in close contact. Why didn’t you listen and keep your distance?”