The words landed heavier than he expected. Rubbing his chest, he shifted his weight and cleared his throat, unsure what to say next. Something had cracked open in his chest these last few days, and he hadn’t quite figured out what it meant yet.
“Your boy has been doing great.” Derek rubbed his thumb along the edge of the desk. “He’s playful, regulated, but respectful for the most part. I wonder how long that will last as he spends lots of time with my Sadie.”
Sam’s mouth quirked as he set his tea down. “That girl is more mischievous than a basket of kittens. My Pippi can pull a prank, but your Sadie… let’s just say her abilities are quite impressive, really.”
Easton dragged a hand through his hair, and his lips twitched. “It’s fun to watch how she can coax even the most withdrawn Little out in the open.”
He’d seen it with Kevin a few days ago—how Sadie had looked up from her glitter-covered paper plate, spotted the shy newcomer lingering at the edges, and offered a crayon without hesitation, her fingers sparkling and her smile even brighter. She hadn’t said a word, just made space like it was the most natural thing in the world, as if everyone deserved to belong.
“Of course she does,” Derek murmured, amused. “Beneath all that glitter and giggle is a heart of gold… and probably a contraband candy stash.”
Easton had to smile about that, until something more thoughtful took its place. Easton caught the shift in Derek’s expression just before the man straightened.
“We’ve been talking about Danny’s stay,” Derek began. “It’s nearly up. A little under two weeks left, if I’m counting right.”
Easton inclined his head. He’d been counting too. Not out loud, not even consciously, but the number clung to the back of his mind like dew on grass. He’d tried not to dread it, but he was.
“You’ve still got time left on your Daddy-in-Residence term,” Sam added. “The question is whether you plan to finish it out… or leave with him.”
“Danny could ask for an extension,” Derek continued, “but that’s not the only option.”
Easton raised a brow.
“You two could stay.” Derek said it simply. “Make it permanent.”
The room stilled for a moment.
Easton glanced between them. “That’s... a lot.”
“It’s an invitation,” Sam clarified, “And we’re not trying to push you—or him for that matter— just laying it out. We’re not making any demands.”
Leaning back, Easton rubbed his thumb against his knee. The thought had lived quietly in the back of his mind for days but hearing it out loud made his pulse tick up. He could picture it. He would wake up beside Danny each morning, sharing breakfast in the Ranch cafeteria, reading bedtime stories after bath time without needing to count down the days.
But it also meant planting roots again. Committing. Letting go.
He flexed his fingers against his thigh, then stilled them.
And what about Danny? The boy had just started to relax back into the Little persona he was. Was he ready for something more permanent?
“I’d need to talk to him,” Easton spoke more to himself than to the other men in the room.
“Of course,” Derek replied.
“No rush.” Sam leaned forward. “You’ve both made incredible progress, but that doesn’t mean you have to sprint toward the next milestone. Recovery isn’t linear. Sometimes the next right step is just standing still for a while.”
Easton nodded. Intellectually, he knew that. But the part of him that had watched Danny blossom over the last few days wanted to take that next step and never look back.
“Thank you,” he said after a long pause. “For the support. For... giving us the space to figure this out.”
“We’ve both seen too many Daddies rush into something before they were truly ready.” Sam picked up his cup again. “You’re doing the work. It shows.”
Derek pushed off from the desk and moved forward to stand beside Easton, placing his hand on his shoulder. “Whatever you two decide, you’ve both left a mark on this place already.”
The three of them stayed like that for a moment longer, letting the warmth of camaraderie settle in. Outside the window, the sun caught on leftover snowbanks, making the walkways shimmer like glass.
Easton watched the light.
He didn’t have all the answers yet. Not even close.
