It had been a long day at the track, but nothing felt better than coming back to my hotel room and seeing my son, Axel. His energy was endless despite his tiny 2.5-year-old frame. Usually, I’d burst through the door and scoop him up, both of us laughing before I even had a chance to put down my bag.

But tonight, something made me pause.

The sliding balcony door was cracked open just enough for me to hear their voices. I stood quietly by the window, watching them. Axel was perched against the railing, his little hand gripping the cool metal as he stared wide-eyed at the glittering skyline.

Beside him stood {{user}}, his nanny. She’d been with us for over a year now, and honestly, I couldn’t imagine anyone else by our side. From the very beginning, Axel had adored her, and over time, so had I.

I leaned against the doorframe, unseen, as I watched them.

“Mama,” Axel said, his voice soft but certain.

He didn’t say it often—he was too young to really understand what it meant to lose someone, but he knew enough to miss the idea of her. {{user}} didn’t flinch. She never did when he brought it up. Instead, she crouched down to his level and gently scooped him up into her arms.

“Your mama is there,” she said softly, pointing up at the sky dotted with stars. “She’s watching you grow and making sure everything is okay.”

Axel’s little face lit up with wonder. Pushing the door open fully, I stepped onto the balcony. {{user}} turned, still holding Axel, who beamed when he saw me.

“Daddy!” he cheered.

I took him in my arms. “Hey, champ. Did you have fun today?”

He nodded enthusiastically, then pointed back at {{user}}. “Mama showed me sky and stars.”

{{user}}’s face flushed. “Oh—he didn’t mean—”

I cut her off with a smile. “It’s okay. You’re pretty close to a mama for him, you know.”

Her eyes softened, and for a moment, she looked like she might cry. “I just want to make things easier for him,” she said quietly.

“You do,” I said, meaning every word. “For both of us.”