What about this weekend?
She listens again, longer this time, her free hand curling into a fist at her side. When she speaks again, her voice is calm but guarded. I keep my face neutral, but the protectiveness coils tighter, sharper now that the immediate danger has passed and a different kind of threat has stepped in.
She closes her eyes briefly, then opens them again. “Okay,” she says finally. “If that’s what you want.” She ends the call and sits there for a moment, phone still pressed to her ear.
“What did he say?” I ask gently.
“He says he’s made a decision about Mason. And that we need to talk. In person.”
My stomach tightens. “About what?”
She shakes her head. “He didn’t say. He wants to come to Columbus this weekend.”
Because we needed more trouble.
HARPER
David arrives Saturday morning exactly on time.
That alone makes my stomach twist.
He’s never been late for things that matter to him, but lately, I haven’t been sure whether Mason still falls into that category. When the front door opens, I brace myself automatically, shoulders squaring, spine straightening.
But David looks… tired.
Not angry-tired or impatient-tired. Just worn down. His posture is less rigid than usual, his gaze softer, almost wary. It’s odd to see in the man who was always so sure about everything.
Aiden notices it too. He clocks the look and gives me a cautious brow raise, as if to ask, “Is he okay?”
I slightly shrug in response.
Mason, oblivious to all of it, barrels forward with a shout of “Daddy!” and launches himself into David’s arms.
David catches him easily and holds him tight, eyes closing briefly like he’s anchoring himself in the weight of his son. “Hey, buddy,” he says, voice low and warm. “I missed you.”
My chest tightens despite myself. It’s the most genuine reaction I’ve see him have to our son in a long time.
Aiden kneels immediately, already reaching to help with Mason’s shoes. “Ready for the park?” Our plan for when David got here. Give David and me space. Let Mason burn off energy somewhere that doesn’t feel tense. The park is only a few blocks away, so it’s the perfect place for it. He stands, towering over the rest of us in the entryway.
Mason’s face lights up. “Yes!”
David looks up at Aiden then, something unreadable flickering across his expression. “That’d be good. We could use some time.”
“We’ll be back in a bit,” Aiden says, already helping Mason into his jacket. “Text if you need anything.”
I smile at the two of them. “I will.”
When the door closes behind them, the penthouse feels suddenly too quiet.
David gestures toward the couch. “Can we sit?”
I do, keeping a careful distance, hands folded together in my lap. I’ve rehearsed this conversation a dozen different ways since he called me. None of those versions included him looking this subdued.
He takes a breath, staring at the floor for a moment before finally speaking.
“The custody arrangement we have,” he says slowly, “isn’t going to work for me anymore.”
My pulse spikes instantly. I nod, but my voice is sardonic without my permission. “It works for the judge. You remember him, and the legally-binding agreement we have? I can get you a copy, if you need to review it.”
