I’d had another restless night, so I got up early and headed out. Langley and the kids were still in bed, so I left her a note letting her know I was going to go check in on my dad before work.

My father was in his late sixties and stuck in his ways. He liked to do things his way, especially after my mother passed. She was the only one who could talk any sense into him, and now that she was gone, not only was he a pain in the ass, but his health was declining. My brothers and I had been worried about him for months, especially after his last trip to the ER, and we’d all been doing our part to make sure he took better care of himself. I hadn’t seen him since the wedding, and considering that was several weeks ago, I figured it was time for me to go see how he was doing. I knocked on his door, and when I stepped inside, I found him sitting in the living room. He looked over at me with surprise as he said, “I wasn’t expecting to see you today.”

“I just came by to see how you were feeling,” I told my father while closing the door behind me. As I started towards him, I took a quick glance around the room. The house hadn’t changed a bit since the day I moved out. We’d tried to get him to update the place, but he refused. Hell, he still had the same tired, artificial flower arrangement sitting on the mantle that had been there for at least fifteen years. I remember the day we’d given it to Mom on Mother’s Day. She was so enchanted with those damn flowers; I figured that was why he’d held onto them for so long. As I sat down on one of the old, leather recliners, I asked, “So, how have things being going?”

“Shouldn’t I be asking you that? You’re the one who just got married.”

“Not much to tell. We’re still getting accustomed to things.”

“This girl you married is my daughter-in-law, and I don’t know anything about her.”

“It’s complicated, Pop.” I sighed.

“Complicated, huh? Is that why you didn’t take her on a honeymoon?”

“Have you been talking to Tucker?”

Dad’s eyes skirted to the floor, letting me know that they had, in fact, been talking about my newfound situation. “He might’ve mentioned something, but only because he was concerned.”

“I’m doing the best I can with all this.”

“Seems to be more going on here than you’re telling me, son.”

I’d seen how excited he was at the wedding. He’d hoped that I’d finally gotten over what had happened with Hannah and Morgan, and I didn’t have it in me to tell him it was all just a farce, at least not yet. “It’s hard to explain.”

“You know … you don’t have to be in a rush to figure everything out. It will all come together. Just embrace the moment and take it for what it is.”

“Doing my best to do just that.” Hoping to change the subject, I asked, “And what about you? Are you embracing this new diet you’re on?”

“Hell, no,” he answered with a dramatic sigh. “There’s only so much styrofoam a person can eat.”

“They’re rice cakes. They’re good for you.”

“I don’t give a damn if they’re good for me. They taste godawful. I’d rather eat a dog’s ass!”

“Dad.”

“It’s true, but … I’ll eat the damn things,” he huffed. “You and your brothers can stop hovering over me.”

“We’re not hovering. We’re just looking out for you.”

“Well, you can stop. I’m gonna be just fine.”

“I sure as hell hope so, because we kind of like having you around.” I stood up and adjusted my tie. “I guess I better get to the office.”

“Glad you stopped by.” As he followed me over to the door, he said, “Next time bring Langley and those kids with you. It would be nice to spend some time with them.”

“I’ll see what I can work out. The kids are pretty busy.”

Apparently, he picked up on the fact that I wasn’t being completely honest about things because he took a step towards me and placed his hand on my shoulder. “I’ve tried real hard to keep my thoughts to myself. You gotta know that hasn’t always been easy, especially after everything that happened, but I’m gonna say this, and you can take it for what it’s worth.”

“Just say what you gotta say, Pop.”

“I know you loved them, and son, I loved them, too. We all did.”

“I don’t want talk about this—”

Without letting me finish, he continued, “You’re still holding on to them, son. You’re letting yourself believe that the past is all you’ve got, but that’s just not true. It’s about what you have now, not what the past has taken away.” He reached for me and gave me a tight hug as he said, “So, even if it’s complicated, give this thing with Langley and those kids a chance. It could be the best thing that ever happened to you.” He patted me on the back before he took a step away, then watched as I turned and headed to my car.

As I started driving towards the office, I tried not to think about what my father had just said. It was easier to block it from my mind and focus on the day before me, but as I drove, I thought about how much things had changed since Langley and the kids had moved in. For the first time in years, I actually looked forward to going home, simply because I knew they were there. Their presence had filled my house with light, and I felt whole whenever I was there with them. While I liked the feeling, it terrified me, knowing it was only a matter of time before I would be left in the darkness once again.

I’d never been a man who liked to deal with my feelings. Instead, I would push them to the side and ignore them altogether. The fact that I was thinking about my past and contemplating my future had me off center, and it pissed me the hell off. By the time I made it to the office, I was in quite a mood. I couldn’t help myself. I tried to get a grip on my anger, but like in all things, the more you try to control something, the more it owns you. Hoping to redirect my focus, I reached in my desk drawer for a case file I’d been working on. When I opened it, I realized it was missing two signatures—signatures that I’d asked Langley to take care of. Without thinking, I reached for the phone and called her office.

As soon as she answered, I said, “I need to see you, now.”

Hearing the anger in my voice, she quickly responded, “I’ll be right there.”

Even though I tried to fight it, I could feel the rage building inside of me, and by the time she tapped on my door, I was ready to snap. “It’s open.”

“Hey. What’s up?”

“I told you last week that I needed this signed.”

As I tossed the file to the edge of my desk, her eyes widened as looked down at the file. She picked it up and opened it, quickly glancing over it before she said, “I’m really sorry. I’m almost positive that I took care of this before I left.”

“Obviously, you didn’t.” My eyes never left hers as I growled, “If you can’t do your job, then I’ll find someone who can.”

“That won’t be necessary.” I didn’t miss the confusion and slight anger in her tone when she added, “I can do my job, Colton.”

“Then do it!”

“I’m sorry. I’ll take care of it right now.” Looking completely flustered, she turned, and just before closing the door, she said, “I won’t let it happen again.”

From the moment I’d picked up that damn phone to call her, I knew exactly what I was doing. I was intentionally trying to hurt her and remind her what an asshole I could be, and I’d done exactly that. I simply didn’t want to admit to myself why I did it. For the past four years, I’d made myself miserable by alienating everyone around. I’d done it on purpose, thinking if I kept people at a distance, then I would have the upper hand. I thought if I made myself completely impenetrable, then I’d be able to deal with life’s unpredictability. But there was nothing I could do to guard myself against someone like Langley. Like a small ray of light, she’d found a crack in my protective barrier, and no matter how hard I’d tried to fight it, she’d managed to wedge her way inside.

Hoping for a distraction, I reached for another file and started reading over it. I was just about to start jotting down notes, when my office door flew open and Langley came charging towards my desk. She approached me with the file in her hand and tossed it on my desk much like the way I’d done to her. With a sarcastic tone in her voice, she snapped, “I’m sorry to interrupt, but I thought you might want to see this.”

I reached for the folder and as I opened it, I asked, “What exactly am I looking at?”

She waited for me to see that not only had the papers been signed, they’d been signed for over two weeks. “Apparently, you were looking at the old copy we kept for our records. I put the new one on your desk as soon as it was signed, and I also emailed you a copy.”

Of course, she did. I knew better than to think Langley had fucked up, because Langley never, under any circumstances, fucked up. She was always on top of things, and I was a damn fool for thinking otherwise. I should’ve apologized, but because I’m an asshole, I couldn’t bring myself to say the words. “Looks like you got me there.”

She could’ve given me all kinds of hell. It wasn’t like I didn’t deserve it, but in true Langley fashion, she gave me a small smile and headed for the door. I should’ve stopped her, tried to make things right, but I just let her walk out the door. I dropped my head in my hand and groaned, knowing I’d just made a bad situation worse. Before I had a chance to even think of how I could fix it, the phone rang, and I was pulled back into work. It was hours before I had a chance to take a breath, and by that time, everyone in the office had already gone home, including Langley. I grabbed my things, and after locking up for the night, I headed home myself.

When I walked in, I was surprised to find that the place was completely empty with no sign of Langley or the kids anywhere in sight. The kids’ toys had been put away, and the entire house was spotless. When I called out for them, no one answered, and I was just starting to worry that something was wrong when I spotted a note on the refrigerator. Apparently, Langley thought I needed a break, so she took the kids out for something to eat and a movie. She’d left dinner for me in the oven, which only made me feel worse for being a dick at the office. Once again, I was feeling things I just didn’t want to, so I left the food in the oven and headed upstairs for a hot shower. Once I was done, I got dressed and headed downstairs to watch the news. I’d just turned on the TV when the back door opened, and Ian came strolling inside.

He looked half asleep as he started for the stairs. “Hey, bud. Where’s your mom?”

“She’s getting Bee out of the car. She fell asleep on the way home.”

Thinking she might need some help, I got up and made my way outside where I found Langley cradling Beatrice in her arms. When she saw me walking in their direction, she said, “I guess I kept them out a little too late.”

I reached for Bee, and as I took her in my arms, I said, “You didn’t have to do that, you know?”

“I thought you might need—”

Before she could finish, I told her, “Let’s get the kids to bed, and then we can talk.”

“Okay.”

Langley followed me upstairs to Bee’s room. I looked down at the little bundle in my arms, and my chest tightened. She looked like an angel as I laid her down on the bed. “Do you want to put on her pajamas?”

“No. Let’s just let her sleep.”

I nodded, and after I pulled the covers over her, Langley walked over to her, and as she kissed her softly on the head, she whispered, “Good night, sweetheart.”

After she turned out the light, we walked over to Ian’s room. He’d already changed his clothes and was in the bed. Langley went over to him and kissed him good night. “Sleep well, sweetie. I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Night, Momma. I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

Once we were out in the hall, I turned to Langley and said, “About this morning …”

“It’s fine, Colton.” I knew she was lying when she wouldn’t look me in the eye.

“No. It’s not fine.”

“You’re right. It wasn’t. I didn’t deserve that,” she snapped.

“No, you didn’t. I was wrong, and I’m sorry for taking my bad day out on you.”

She looked up at me with a perplexed expression. “Well, that’s a first. I’ve been working with you for almost five years now, and I don’t think I’ve ever heard you apologize to anyone.”

“I’ve apologized before.”

“Hmm … No, I don’t think you have.” She teased. “I would’ve heard about it if the Nutcracker had ever apologized to anyone.”

“Nutcracker? I thought I was Sex-in-a-Suit,” I argued.

“Depends on who you’re talking to.” She giggled, and that pull I’d felt for her only grew stronger. “It doesn’t matter. Today was just a misunderstanding. Don’t worry about it.”

She turned, and as she started towards her room, I asked, “Langley?”

“Hmmm?”

“What nickname do you use for me in the office?”

Mischief flashed in her eyes as she answered, “That’s one secret I’m keeping to myself.”