In the moments before Richard is about to consummate his attraction to Nikki, he realizes how grave the loss of his wife and children would be, so he walks out on Nikki, musing that you can't choose who you love in life, but you can choose how you love. Richard returns home, surprising his wife, and they begin to rebuild a genuine rapport, with the possibility of good things to come.
The narrative highlights Richard's internal conflict between his feelings for Nikki and the profound impact of losing his wife and children. His decision to return home signifies a choice to rebuild his relationship with his wife, suggesting that he recognizes the importance of prioritizing existing relationships over pursuing new ones.