A heavy silence settles over the room after Jenny and Tatum leave. Nate tries to follow, but Mom stops him. “You should stay too.”

Looking resigned, my brother nods.

I’m a yo-yo of emotions right now: Elated to learn that Alden returns my feelings; he wouldn’t love me if he hadn’t let go of my transgressions, right? Sad and confused over the way my dad is behaving. And nervous for whatever bomb he’s about to drop.

Alden places his hand on the small of my back, rubbing his thumb in soft, soothing circles. “Let me turn off the grill and then we can head into the living room to talk.”

“I’ve got it, man. You stay with her,” Nate says, clapping Alden on the back as he walks past us.

The four of us go ahead and get settled in the living room. I’m so thankful to have Alden at my side. I know with him I can face whatever is about to come our way.

My parents snag the club chairs and when Nate joins us, he lowers himself down to the floor and leans back against the far side of the couch.

When neither of my parents make a move to talk, I lose the little bit of patience I have left. “Are we just going to sit around and stare at each other? If so, I’m gonna pass.”

“Just give your dad a second, this is hard for him,” Mom says, her voice as calm and even as ever.

I stifle the urge to roll my eyes, but just barely.

“Your aunt Linda,” Dad starts and I can’t help but wonder my deceased aunt whom I’ve never even met could possibly have to do with anything.

He seems to get choked up over the mere mention of her name, and Mom reaches over and clasps his hand in a show of support. He clears his throat and continues. “Your aunt Linda and I were really close growing up, kind of the way you and Nate are. She always wanted to tag along with me and my friends.”

Nate and I exchange baffled glances but keep quiet.

“When she was a senior in high school, I brought her with me to a college party and—” His words break off again, and I swear he has tears gathering. “I didn’t want her to hover like a shadow all night, so I grabbed her a beer and sent her on her way...a few of her friends were there.”

When his tears actually fall, I know this story doesn’t have a happy ending. Dad drops his head to his hands and sobs openly while my mother soothingly rubs his back, murmuring words of comfort.

“Sh-she was a-a-assaulted. Raped. By the man I called my closest friend.” He pauses again, and my heart aches for him. Alden reaches an arm around me and pulls me into him, silently giving me the comfort I desperately need.

“She didn’t tell anyone what happened that night. Not until about eight weeks later, when she found out she was pregnant. She ended up losing the baby, and she blamed herself. She never was right after that. And Natalie, oh my sweet Nat Bug…everything with you was so reminiscent of her. Then we find out Alden is the responsible party, and all of the sudden it’s like history’s repeating itself right before my very eyes.”

“But Dad, Alden didn’t—”

He waves me off. “I know. I know. But I couldn’t help but draw parallels. Every parent wants the best for their child, and I couldn’t help but feel I had somehow failed you the same way I failed her. You got pregnant. As a minor. Under my roof. How can I not hold myself responsible?”

I rush off the couch and throw myself into my dad’s arms. “Oh, Dad. No. You’ve always been such a good father. You’ve always been there for me. And Nate. And even Alden. We’re all so lucky to have you.” His large frame shakes as he continues to cry.

I ramble on, trying my best to give him peace. “Alden would never hurt me, Dad. He’s a good man, and what happened between us was consensual, even if we were under the influence. I knew what I was doing, and as much as you don’t want to hear this, I initiated it. I had this…this plan. Over the years, my feelings morphed from a childhood crush to more. So much more. I knew even then that I loved him, Dad. And I thought that if we…you know…that he would see we were meant to be together. Obviously, things backfired a little. But, I got my sweet Tatum and now…now things with Alden are falling into place. I’m so sorry this brought back all of those memories, but I promise you, it was not the same thing.”

Nate stands and joins us, wrapping the both of us in a hug. “What happened with Aunt Linda wasn’t your fault, Dad.”

“No,” Dad argues. “If I hadn’t—”

Alden speaks up, cutting him off. “Luke, you’ve always been like a second father to me. Thanks to your influence in my life, I know I’ll be the best dad to Tatum possible. Throughout my childhood, you taught us through your actions that fatherhood is a privilege and not a right. You’re a good man who has suffered through unspeakable loss, and I hate that. But, sir, I can guarantee you, I love your daughter, and I would never, ever hurt her in any way or take advantage of her in any way. She’s precious to me.” Alden’s feelings for me, and our daughter, are clearly on display for the entire room to see—and when his eyes also cloud over with emotion, I know bone deep he means every word.

By this point, there’s not a dry eye in the room. “I know, son. I know.”

Nate gives us one last squeeze before returning to his spot on the floor, but I stay with my dad, hugging him tight for a few more minutes. “I’m so sorry, Nat Bug,” he whispers gruffly into my hair.

“It’s okay—”

“No, it’s not. I…I think maybe I need to talk to someone about this. Your mom has been begging me to for years. I think now it’s time.”

I pull back from our embrace and look him in the eye. “I think that’s a really good idea, Dad. And I…I’m proud of you.” I kiss his forehead and move back to Alden’s side.

For a few minutes, we all sit in silence, absorbing the reality of all of the truths that just came to light. That is, until we hear the sound of little feet running across the hardwood accompanied by Tatum yelling, “I know, Miss Jenny. But I gots to potty now!”

We all laugh and take that as our cue to disband.

“Y’all still hungry?” Alden asks.

My dad pats his belly. “I could eat. If you still want us to join you.”

“Wouldn’t be the same without you, Luke.” Internally I beam at Alden’s words, loving that he loves my family the same way they love him.

“I’m gonna go check on Tatum,” I say, excusing myself. I head to the half bath, knowing that’s where my girl will be.

I find Jenny in the hall outside of the half bath. “Sorry,” she cringes. “I tried telling her to wait.”

“You’re all good. It was actually perfect timing.”

Jenny’s tight facial features visibly relax. Poor girl—we haven’t really made the best first impression as a family unit, have we?

We both grin when from behind the bathroom door Tatum hollers, “Miss Jenny! I all done. I did a poop!”

“I’ve got this,” I tell my best friend, and Lord knows, she doesn’t need to be told twice. She makes a hasty retreat, bumping into my brother on the way. I watch, fascinated, as she tries to stop in time, but trips and faceplants into his chest.

He catches her and steadies her on her feet. “Whoa, girl. Slow down.”

She smiles up at him dazedly before moving around him and scurrying away. He turns my way, smirking. “Your friend’s an odd one.”

“She is not!” I start to argue, but Tatum interrupts.

“Hello! I did a poop! Helps!”

Nate laughs, backing away. “That’s all you.”

I open the bathroom and immediately bust out laughing. Tatum has practically the entire thing of toilet paper unrolled and is in the process of bunching it. “Tater Tot, what on earth are you doing?”

“No one came to help me, so I do it. I’m big!”

“Oh my, you are big. But, sweetheart, that much toilet paper will clog the toilet.”

I show her the proper amount to use, but she pushes it back my way. “No, you here now. You do it.” Good Lord, this kid. I help her take care of business, and we both wash our hands, humming the Happy Birthday song as we go, before heading out to join everyone else.

Back in the kitchen, the atmosphere is notably lighter, and my heart soars. This is how it should be when family gets together—easy and fun, not rife with tension and aggression.

Tatum notices it too. “Oh! Eb-ry one is happy now!” She claps her hands and twirls. “Dis is much gooder!” She walks over to where my parents are seated at the bar. “Nana. Popsie. I show y’all my room?”

“We would love that very much,” my mom tells her, and the three of them set off up the stairs.

Alden and Nate are chatting about God knows what by the back door, while Jenny is—wait a minute. “Alden, where’s Jenny?”

“She stepped outside to make a phone call.” He walks over to me and pulls me into him, nestling my head in the crook of his chin. “You okay?”

I sigh. “Yeah. I am.” His earlier declaration whispers to me. “You really meant it when you said you loved me?”

“With every fiber of my being.”

I pull back and look up at him. “You’re not worried about…complications?”

“Natalie, I. Love. You. I love our daughter. I want us to be so tangled up together that I don’t know where you end and I begin. I want all of the complications. I want you. I want this. For now, and forever.”

I push up on to my tip-toes and kiss him, not caring one bit that my brother is still in the room. Or at least I don’t care until he groans and mutters, “I’m glad y’all are happy, but I don’t need to see this shit.”

I pull away and smirk at him before leaning in and kissing Alden one last time. “I guess I’m going to get all of the side dishes reheated.”

“Sounds good. I’ll get the grill going again.”

Alden heads out back and Nate follows—men and their grilling.