Rina bit her lip, and I could almost read her mind. Her thoughts were transparent. I hadn’t honestly bothered with the kids since my injury, pulling back from them. Sure, I’d done things with them, but they’d instigated it. Rina had been the dominant parent for ages. It was time I stood up or lost my kids for good. I didn’t want to be my father.
“Have fun,” she said and disappeared upstairs.
Walker and the kids came pounding down the stairs in various states of dress.
“Okay, stop right there, guys!” I ordered. The three younger ones skidded to a halt. Walker had his arms full of clothes.
“Aren’t we going?” Callum asked, his shoulders going back, ready to brace for disappointment.
“Yes, but not like that. Put your boots on, wrap those scarves around your neck. Coats on, gloves and hats!” I said.
I winced as the kids attacked Walker and grabbed various items of clothing. As they stamped into their boots, I caught Walker sending me worried glances. I beckoned him over.
“What’s wrong?”
“Dad, are you sure you want to do this without Mom?” he asked, not holding back. “They’re a handful.”
“I’m aware of what the kids are,” I retorted, but made sure there was no accusation in my reply.
“Are you, Dad?”
“Yes, son. Walker, I know I’ve been distant. I’ve been dealing with a lot.”
Walker held my gaze. “You weren’t the only one. Zoie and Xander are too young to remember how you used to be. But Callum remembers a bit, and I remember my dad before the accident. You nearly lost a leg, we lost a father.”
Walker’s words hit hard, and he meant them to. “I’m sorry.”
“Not good enough, Dad. If you’re really sorry, then come back to us. I don’t need a part-time dad. We deserve better. Man up, you’re alive, you could have been Grey. Baby Danny won’t ever know his father. Think about that shit, Dad. And think about how Dane took your place.”
Walker wasn’t holding back, and I couldn’t blame him. I’d been an awful father. Walker’s words about Dane made me flinch. He wasn’t lying; Dane and James had both stepped into my role. That was on me. Despite how bitter I felt about my leg, I’d been fully aware I’d been pushing my family away.
The distance between me, Rina, and the kids was on me, and nobody else. For a brief moment, I considered withdrawing again. But Walker’s direct stare stopped me.
“I’m trying.”
“You’re very trying, Dad,” Walker quipped as Zoie approached with her boots on the wrong feet.
Rina
I sketched frantically as the snow continued to fall. It hadn’t stopped since we arrived, causing me to wonder if England usually got snow like this. While I was sketching, I became slowly aware of someone watching me. A shiver ran down my spine, and I looked up. Standing in a corner was a woman in old-fashioned clothing.
“What on earth?” I gasped.
“Healing takes time.”The words floated in the air.
“What?”
“To save your family, the only thing you need is time.”
“Are you aghost?” I demanded incredulously.
The woman smiled and then faded away.
“Ghosts don’t exist!” I exclaimed and carried on sketching. But Zoie’s reaction this morning hovered in my mind.
Lady Catherine.
I hadn’t meant to scare the little girl. I’d been trying to reassure her that everything would be okay. But I had frightened her last night. The family was fractured still, but I had seen Adam making moves to be a better man. It was tiny steps he was taking, but they were there. Adam was needed; the future was always in motion, but he was important to it.
