Chapter Ten
When Willem stepped inside the kitchen, he wasn’t sure what he was expecting to find. Maybe a pouting Eli or maybe the three of them at the table working on their schoolwork. But as he stepped into the living room, what he got was silence – other than the drone of the television which was turned to a local weather station. All of the kids’ workbooks were stacked neatly on the table. Eli’s party planning folders were sitting in the opposite corner with his laptop. Much like it had been yesterday when he’d gone down to the stable to milk Bessie. It was comforting to see such a familiar setting but at the same time worrisome.Where is everyone?
He cleared his throat. “Eli?” The name came out more like a croak than anything. That feeling in the pit of his stomach was back – even stronger than before. He tried again, a little louder. “Kids?”
“They’re in their rooms playing.” Eli said from behind him.
Willem started. He hadn’t heard the door open and shut. He swung around, relief warring with something else as he took in his boy’s appearance. Eli’s red curls were wet with melting snow. He was tugging off his mittens, which he set down on the island. A second later he toed off his snow-covered boots and hung his scarf on the hook next to the door. It was obvious that his boy had been outside.
“Where were you? Didn’t I tell you to stay inside?” The words came out sharper than he intended, and his boy stiffened.Shit.Evidently, he wasn’t starting off on the right foot. But with the storm raging his boy could easily get lost, even going to the stable.
“Keep your voice down, Will.” Eli unzipped his coat to reveal the cable knit sweater that Willem had gotten him. “At least until we can go upstairs. The kids don’t need to hear us fighting.”
Fighting?The thought froze the blood in Willem’s veins. He and Eli rarely fought. What the hell had he done to get his boy’s back up?
“As to where I was, Bessie needed milking. I’d just finished when I heard the Ranch truck pull up. I assume that Derek came and got you?”
“Yeah.” Willem clenched his jaw.
“Good.” Eli nodded. “I’m going to check on the kids, then I’ll head upstairs.” Eli brushed past him but paused for a moment to lean down and press a kiss to Willem’s lips. “It’s good to have you home, Daddy. Even if I’m angry with you at the moment.” Then he disappeared down the hall to the kids’ bedrooms, leaving a stunned Willem standing in the middle of the living room.
“What the hell?” he whispered the words softly as he pressed his fingers against his lips. Where had his boy gone and who was this stranger in his place?
He watched as Eli disappeared into Raelynn’s room, then decided that there was only one way to find out.Like a band-aid, I just need to deal with this head-on. Rip it off. Maybe figure out what the hell set him off – what I did wrong.
As he climbed the stairs to their room, Derek’s words echoed through his mind.
Listen to him before you go all Daddy-dom on him.
“Fuck.” Willem entered their bedroom, then sank down on the edge of their bed. Every particle in him demanded that he take his boy in hand, remind Eli who was in charge. But perhaps Derek was right. He needed to find out why Eli was angry first before deciding if it was just his boy throwing a tantrum or not.
* * *
“You good?” Eli asked the kids as he entered the room. They were sprawled on Raelynn’s bed playing a game ofChutes and Ladders.
Raelynn looked up. “Sure are. Bessie milked?”
He nodded. “Yep. She complained a bit about my inept hands, but at least she’s milked.” He gave a forced laugh. “She likes Daddy Will’s hands much better than mine.”
Jeremy rolled his eyes. “She’s ornery. That’s what Daddy Will says.”
“That she is.” He shifted a bit. “If you’re good with it, I’m gonna run upstairs, do a couple of things, and then shower. Will you two be okay?”
“Yep. We’re gonna playCandylandnext.” She gestured to the brightly colored box next to her.
“Cool. When I come back down, I’ll play a round with you. It’s my favorite game.”
“LikeYahtzeeandScrabble?” Raelynn crossed her little arms over her chest. “You have a lot of favorite games, Uncle Eli.”
“You mean I can’t have more than one favorite game?” He acted surprised, making the kids giggle. A little bit of the heaviness in his chest eased. Even though he was angry and hurt by Willem’s actions this morning, he wouldn’t trade this life for anything.Couples argue,he reminded himself,we will get through this because we love each other.But even as he tried to reassure himself that everything would be okay, he wondered how his Daddy would react to the adult Eli taking a very firm stand about being treated as an equal when it came to Willem’s healthcare issues. Was he a Little? Absolutely, but he was also an adult who was smart enough and mature enough to handle it when things got shitty. He wanted his Daddy’s protection, but he also needed Willem to remember that he was his partner as well as his Little boy.
“Okay, kiddos, I’m gonna go wash off the Bessie funk and I’ll be back down forCandyland.”
“K…” Raelynn shot him a brief smile, as she drew another card, then giggled as she landed on a chute and knocked her brother’s piece over. “…oops, sorry Jer. Looks like you have to start over.”
“No fair.” Jeremy groused good-naturedly before drawing his own card. “I’ll catch up.”
Eli smiled as he shut the door. He and Willem had the best damn kids. The smile fell from his face though, as he slowly walked back up the hall to the now empty living room. His daddy was nowhere in sight, which meant he’d gone upstairs. God he wasn’t looking forward to this.But it has to be done. Daddy and I need to be on the same page.
