I stood in the hall listening to the conversation play out in the other room between Bethany, Lillian, and Lincoln. Lincoln’s right; I have let this get personal. But Lillian is correct as well; I can do my job without letting my feelings get in the way. When I agreed to protect Bethany and her son, Peanut, I did it out of loyalty to Lillian and Lincoln. He had agreed to protect Lillian, and in doing so, he put his own family at risk. I admired and respected the man for loving Lillian enough to put her first. It’s exactly what I would have done if the tables had been turned. I hadn’t expected to become so attached to that little boy, but I did. The kid’s got the most amazing personality, just like his mother.

At first, I tried to keep the two of them at arm's length, but Peanut wasn’t having any of it. He’d follow me around the house all day, asking questions. “Why did you do that, Angewhoa?” or “What are you doing now, Angewhoa?” And the way he says my name started to melt my gruff exterior. After a couple of days, Bethany became persistent that I join them for meals. That only opened the door even further. At first, she’d ask questions, and I’d ignore her, but that didn’t stop her from trying to have a conversation. No, instead, she’d start telling me about her and Peanut’s life, and before I knew what was happening, I started telling her about mine. She weaseled herself into my life just like her son did.

Honestly, I haven’t felt the way I’m feeling now since the day I walked out of Lillian's life, damning myself to protect her from afar instead of being a part of her life. Things may have been different if I had gone back to her in California. Maybe our families would have blessed a marriage between us, or maybe I’d be dead by now because her father would have ended my life. Who can really say why things happen the way they do? Maybe our love story was never really meant to be more than a fleeting moment. All I know is that since I’ve been here in Virginia, I’ve been happy.

When Bethany raises her voice to her brother, I want to march out there and pat her on the back for standing up for herself. Hearing Lillian defend me to Lincoln shocks me, but I understandably respect his concerns. When their voices finally quiet, I know it’s safe for me to show my face.

Bethany stands in the center of the living room. “Peanut, go wash your hands for dinner.” Her eyes quickly rise to meet mine when I enter the room. “Please join us for dinner.” It isn’t a question. No, she’s telling me in no uncertain terms that my presence is required at the table. Peanut rushes past me to the bathroom. I can see him out of the corner of my eye as he steps up on his stool and turns on the water. I can’t help but smile as he splashes water all over the counter and keeps singing “just keep swimming, just keep swimming.” He dries his little hands and then tosses the towel on the floor as he skips out the door and past me toward the kitchen.

Bethany still stands in the living room. “That wasn’t a question, Angelo. I’m telling you to get your ass to the table for dinner.”

I smile at her while I give her a salute. “I know it wasn’t a question, Bethany. I was just watching over Peanut while he washed his hands.”

I expect dinner to be awkward if we don’t clear the air first, so I step into the kitchen, earning a glare from Lincoln. I nod and say, “Lincoln, can we speak for a moment outside?” He won’t let the opportunity to put me in my place pass. If he did, I’d probably lose respect for him. But he quickly follows me through the back door and out into the yard.

“Look,” I say before he has the opportunity to start the conversation, “I just want you to know that I heard everything you said earlier, so let’s get this matter cleared up immediately and move forward.”

Lincoln puffs out his chest. “Very well.” His tone is stern. “I’m not sure what we walked in on this evening. Frankly, Angelo, I’m a bit concerned that your priorities might be a little mixed up.”

Before Lincoln can continue, I quickly stop him. “Hold up a moment,” I tell him. “Bethany is a grown woman with a mind of her own.”

Lincoln obviously doesn’t like where this conversation is going. “She’s a grown woman with a small child, Angelo. She’s fifteen years younger than you, and let's not start with the difference in both of your upbringings. Aren’t you the least bit concerned with those two items?”

And there it is, the true issue at hand. My age and my job. “Look, Lincoln, if there is one thing I learned from Lillian, it’s that age is just a number. It doesn’t define the person or their experiences in life. Lillian is ten years younger than me but just as much my equal as any woman ten years her senior.”

Lincoln nods his head in agreement. “That is because of who she is and how she was raised. Which is exactly my second point, Angelo. Bethany has lived a sheltered life. She has no idea of the evil that lives in your world and in mine now. Trust me, I want nothing more than for my sister to be happy. Let’s face it. Her ex-was a piece of shit, and I’ve spent every day since my nephew was born making sure no one ever hurts her again. I want her to be happy, but do you honestly feel you can protect her and my nephew if your head isn’t on straight?”

I want to punch Lincoln, knock him off his high horse, but I take the higher road. “Lincoln, there is one thing I can tell you with no uncertainty, and that is that I can and will protect both of them. Just as I swore to Mr. Vicci, I can swear to you. I WILL protect Bethany and Peanut’s life, even if it means giving up mine.”

We both stand there for a moment in silence. “I don’t like it, Angelo, but you are right. Bethany is a grown woman. But I assure you, if you allow one hair on either of their heads to be harmed, or you hurt either of them, there will be nowhere you can hide from me. I have the means and the money to find you.”

I reach my hand out to shake Lincoln’s. “I assure you, neither will ever happen.”