Ethan pulls me back in for another brotherly embrace as the sudden click of a camera going off makes Ethan and I snap our heads to the side.
Jovie has a great big smile on her face as she holds my cell up. “Sorry, just thought I should capture this moment. It’s a big deal between you guys. Brotherly bonding and all that.”
I let out a small laugh as Lou giggles, joining in with the embrace.
“Oh, hold on, I’m videoing this one,” Jovie announces.
In this moment, I don’t even care. Ethan and I are finally on good terms. I just hope like hell when the kids wake up, they’re on this same page with us. Because if they don’t want to come home, I don’t think I could handle the disappointment.
KEVLAR
This night in the hospital was the worst night of my life. Not because anything went wrong, it didn’t, but because I was constantly checking the kids making sure they were okay. I’ve never felt more on edge in my life. The thought of losing one of them, or both of them, sat in my stomach all night eating away at me. Even though Chills constantly told me they were fine, Jovie still had to talk me down from the ledge multiple times.
She’s been a godsend.
I’ve heard of overprotective parents, but last night was something else.
In the light of the morning, I’m sure now it stems back to Em. The memory of losing her. The thought of going through that pain again, only twice this time. I’m not sure I could have handled it. Thank God my kids are awake now and so much livelier this morning as they sit eating their cereal.
Ethan and Jovie are here, and we’re going to ask the kids about moving into the clubhouse. It’s not a done deal. I want them with me more than anything, but if they don’t want to come home, I don’t know what I’m going to do.
Sadie spills a line of the cereal down her chin, then bursts out laughing. “I made a mess, Daddy.” I stand from my seat, walking over to her, grabbing a Kleenex from the box, then wipe her clean. She smiles up at me lovingly as I pat her down.
“You’re still beautiful to me, baby girl.”
“You wanna Cheerio, Daddy?” she asks, holding her spoon up to me, a little circle of sugared puff falling straight off and onto the floor. “Oops!”
I lean in, kissing her temple. “You feeling better this morning?”
“Mm-hmm… I didn’t like the cold.”
My chest tightens as I grab her hand. “I know… I’m sorry we didn’t get there sooner.”
“The man in the mask said you w… w… wouldn’t come,” Lucas adds.
I let go of Sadie and walk around in between the two beds grabbing Lucas’ and Sadie’s hands together. “The second I knew you were gone, I wouldn’t stop until I found you both. I would do anything for you. Anything. Because I’m your dad, and I love you. More than life.”
Lucas sits up on his knees, gnawing on his lip. His eyes conveying something like he’s afraid to say what he’s thinking.
“What is it, little big man?”
“I w… w… wanna come to the cwubhouse.”
I turn back to Ethan, hope filling my chest as he bobs his head. Now is the right time to talk to them. “Kids, how do you feel about coming to live with Dad back at the clubhouse, where you lived before going to stay with Uncle Ethan? You’d be with Dad all the time and a bunch of his friends—”
“I wanna go,” Sadie calls out, bouncing on the bed like she’s excited.
Lucas beams in happiness. “Is Mommy there, too?”
Jovie frowns as I grip hold of him tighter. “No, buddy. But she is watching down on us, and her memory lives on everywhere. Plus, Grumps and Mimi are there.”
“Yay,” they both cheer-jumping up and down on their beds.
“Grumps and Mimi?” Jovie asks.
“Fox and Bub’s grandparent names.”
“Gotchya.”
“So, you’re both okay living with Daddy? Not with Uncle Ethan and Auntie Lou anymore?”
They both look at each other, then back to me. “Will we still get to see Uncle Ethan?” Sadie asks.
Ethan steps forward this time, caressing her tiny cheek. “Of course. All the time. I’m not going anywhere. You’re my two favorite little people.”
They giggle as Sadie jumps up in her excitement. “We’re gonna live at the clubhouse.”
Chills gave the kids the all-clear to come home. They might have been full of energy this morning when we told them about coming to live at the clubhouse, but their energy is only short-lived. It comes in bursts as they’re still quite worn out from their hypothermia. Their energy will come and go for a little while, and I have been told I just need to keep an eye on them.
While Jovie went and got some snacks, I was able to ask them briefly about what happened when they were taken. They said a man in a mask took them. He was wearing an elephant mask, so he didn’t appear threatening, more playful. He gave them candy in the car and treated them well, but when they got to the warehouse, he handed them over to an older man, and they didn’t like him. He was wearing all black, and they described a face with burns.
He’s the asshole who put them in the freezer.
He’s the one who’s going to pay.
But all that can wait for a moment because right now, I’m driving into the clubhouse with my kids. I’m not sure I ever truly believed this day would come. Zero has been so fucking good about all this. He has a room ready for them right next to mine.
Jovie’s on the passenger side alongside me. Honestly, she has been so freaking supportive through this whole thing. As I pull the car to a halt, the kids are quiet as I glimpse across at Jovie. A range of emotions flow through me I can’t even describe.
She nods at me in understanding, gripping my hand with a tight squeeze. “They’re home, Daddy,” she whispers.
She couldn’t have said anything better.
I inhale sharply as I turn to my children in the back. Sadie’s playing on her iPad, and Lucas is staring out the window at the clubhouse in awe.
Pride fills me.
I made them.
These two resilient, amazing, gorgeous children.
What a fucking accomplishment.
“Okay, let’s go inside and unpack your room, okay?” I tell them.
“Is it pink?” Sadie asks.
I sort out a laugh. “No, your brother is in there with you.”
“Is it bwue?” Lucas counters.
I tilt my head to the side. “No, your sister’s in there with you.”
Jovie snickers as she opens her car door, sliding out.
“Can we get a dog? Uncle Ethan wouldn’t let us get a dog. I want a poodle,” Sadie blurts out.
“Making demands now, baby girl? And we don’t need one, Wraith already has a dog called Mack. You can play with him.”
Sadie claps her hands together. “Yay, we have a dog.”
I grin, sliding out of the truck, then move to the back to help them out. I grab Sadie first as my brothers all walk outside to help us bring in their luggage.
“Welcome home, kids,” Fox calls out.
Sadie’s eyes widen. “Grumps!” She takes off before I even have her feet on the ground. She slams into his legs, giving her grandfather a tight embrace as I walk around for Lucas, who’s squirming in his booster to get to his grandparents. “Down, Daddy!”