I climb the stairs and find Harper bathing Gunner. The floor is soaked. Usually, I'm the one getting into trouble for flooding the place at Gunner’s bath time. Gunner and I have made a game of it, though she’s not playing. She leans on the tub, resting her head on her arm as Gunner plays with the toy boats. She’s tired and I don’t know how much longer it’s going to be before she breaks.
I lean against the doorframe and stand there for a few minutes before my son notices me.
“Daddy!”
I grin and Harper lifts her head to look at me. Fuck, she is so beautiful. It kills me that she ever has to feel anything but content. I know it’s not possible to be constantly happy but to me, being content is an easier version of happiness that is achievable.
“I wasn’t expecting you back tonight,” she murmurs.
“Yeah, well, your dad has taken over and is now calling the shots.” I can’t help the bitterness in my tone, not that she notices it.
“He knows what he’s doing. He'll bring Leo home, and you’ll get justice for my uncle.”
Frowning, I remind her, “We already dealt with the traitor.”
“Not just him. Hopper’s the one who showed up here and opened fire. He needs to die too. Dad has dealt with men like him for years and he’s still here. He knows what he’s doing,” she repeats.
“He’s not the president anymore,” I also remind her.
“Fuck, Jay, I don’t know. Work with him, you both want the same outcome.”
She looks back to Gunner and reaches for a towel. “My dad isn’t your enemy, babe.”
“I didn’t say he was.”
“What are you saying then? Cause your complaining sounds exactly like you did.”
“I think he’s wrong.” I explain how Cas wants to deal with the situation and she suggests, “Why don’t half of you stay here for his call, and the rest of you head out and start looking?”
I smirk. “That was my plan but he shot it down.”
She tosses me the bath towel and asks, “Can you get him out for me, please?”
“Sure.”
She pulls the plug and moves out of the way as I step into her place. Wrapping my boy up in the towel, I lift him out and carry him through to our room. His pyjamas are already laid out on his fold up cot and I dry him off and get him ready for bed.
“You don’t look tired, son.”
“I’m not.” He grins.
“Well it’s bedtime,” Harper tells him, and I roll my eyes behind her back, making him chuckle.
“Why don’t we watch a movie?” she asks him.
He nods and runs across the room, jumping on the bed. Harper makes herself comfortable and the vacant gleam in her eyes sets me on edge.
I lean over and kiss the top of Gunner’s head and then press my lips to Harper’s.
“I’ll see you both in the morning.”
“Night, Dad”
“Goodnight, son.”
Harper grabs the remote and looks up at me. “Don’t get yourself snatched.”
I do my best to smile. “I’ll try not to.”
