It’s a rough day. First Evan, then Ross, then Mary. I feel like I’ve been through the wringer, and yet I feel lighter than before. At least now I know what ate at Mary all these months, and although talking about their mom felt like slicing open my own heart, I think it made a difference.

It feels like it, as we curl on the sofa all four of us, in front of the TV, even if Mary and Cole don’t fight about the show we’re watching, which is damn unusual. But Mary’s curled up against my side, sandwiched between me and Octavia, Cole sitting at our feet, and the defensive walls guarding her gaze seem to be down.

She giggles when Octavia tickles her arm. She sticks her tongue out at me when I ask her about school. All said and done, she’s her old self.

I just hope it lasts, and that we’ve convinced her things will turn out all right.

The droning of the TV, combined with the day I’ve had, makes me drowsy. At first the ringing of the bell is like an echo from a dream—until Cole jumps up as if he has springs in his ass and runs to the door.

What the fuck? Can’t a guy have a quiet evening with his family, after the emotional clusterfuck we just lived through?

“Gigi!” Cole yells, and I sigh, rubbing at my eyes.

“Want me to send her away?” Octavia whispers. “You look beat.”

“You too,” I whisper back, “and I love you.”

Shooting me a small grin, she ruffles Mary’s hair and gets up. “Not sending her away, then?”

“Have you ever tried to send Gigi away?” I snort. “She’s here to see you, and she’ll get her way one way or another. Better treat it like a Band-Aid. Tear it off in one go.”

“You comparing me to a Band-aid?” Gigi demands, entering the living room, led by Cole who’s determinedly tugging on her hand.

Damn the girl’s super hearing. “Who me? Nah. What’s up, G?”

She laughs as she grabs Octavia’s arm and pulls her close for a peck on the cheek. “Just popped in to see how your trip was. Was Destiny still where we left it?”

“Why not?” Cole asks, looking worried.

“Destiny will always be there,” Octavia says, smiling. “Just like we left it.”

“Why ring the bell?” I mutter as I straighten on the sofa, Mary still clutched to my side. “You have keys to the house.”

“Yeah, but I knew you guys were in. I couldn’t come in without knocking.” She perches on the armrest of the sofa, pulling Cole along. “Now tell me all about it! Did you find Evan? How is he? Did you see anybody else? Did you visit our old house?”

“We didn’t find the time,” Octavia says. “To visit the house, I mean. Besides, the couple who moved in painted it a garish green color, and I wasn’t so keen on seeing it that way.”

I hadn’t even thought to ask her if she’d wanted to visit. I hope she’s telling the truth.

The smile she sends my way reassures me, though.

“Evan is okay,” I say. “He had a small accident, but he’s recovering fine. I have plans to see him more often from now on.” I stroke Mary’s hair. “You may see him, too.”

“Thinking of inviting him to St. Louis?” asks Gigi who doesn’t miss a thing.

“Maybe.”

Octavia’s bright gaze is on me, and it’s a struggle not to tell her what’s on my mind. Soon I’ll know for sure, and I’ll talk to her. Talk to Evan.

Gotta talk to Kaden first. Tomorrow.

“How’s Merc, and Mom?” Octavia has her hand on her belly, and I wonder if the baby is kicking again.

I want to go to her, put my hand over hers, but I have Mary nestled against my side, and tonight she needs all the reassurance I can give her. So I stay put.

“Oh fine. You know Mom. She’s been baking nonstop for you. She’ll probably stop by tomorrow and unload a ton of cakes and cookies for all the babies.” She nods at Octavia with a grin. “Born and yet unborn.”

“If she keeps doing that I’ll be like a whale by the time baby comes,” Octavia mutters, her cheeks reddening.

“You? Nah.” Gigi clucks her tongue. “If I didn’t know you’re preggers, I wouldn’t have guessed. Mom says that’s how it often is with the first baby. Now, after you have the second, well…” She shrugs. “Boom. Whale-status.”

“Gigi!” Octavia laughs. Her sister always manages to shock her and amuse her at the same time.

But… more babies. I like the sound of that.

And hey, what’s wrong with that, right? I love being a dad, running my little troupe, taking care of them, setting them on the straight path. Making sure they gather good memories to keep them happy when they grow up, that they know they’ll always have a home to come back to.

Sure, fatherhood stresses me sometimes, I won’t deny it—but I wouldn’t give it up for the world.

“Come on, let’s make you some hot chocolate and talk,” Octavia says, tugging on a lock of Gigi’s blond hair. “I want to hear what you were up to while we were away.”

“Who me? You make it sound like I’m going to get spanked. Am I? Just asking out of pure curiosity.”

“And how Merc is really doing, not those vague comments you made on the phone, and what Mom baked for us. Come on, or I’ll drink all the hot chocolate myself. Chop, chop.”

Gigi sighs, pats Cole’s head and gets up to follow her sister. “This big sister intimidation thing isn’t working with me anymore, you know. I’m old enough to know your tricks.”

Intimidation by hot chocolate. I need to remember this one. I mean, since I’m sort of a father figure for Gigi. A very young father, considering she’s just turned nineteen, but still. I take this seriously. I’ll have to ask Octavia for more info on that hot chocolate method.

I grin.

And as Cole returns to snuggle beside me, Mary on the other side, I know I wouldn’t give it up.

Ever.