He doesn’t look at me.
He keeps his attention on the boys and the breakfast in front of him, like I’m not even in the room.
Unsure of what I’m supposed to do, I just stand there.
A stranger in my own home.
Ty starts scratching at the back door, so I walk over, unlock it, and let him out.
Bell trots right past me without a glance.
“Rude,” I mutter under my breath.
Rolling my eyes, I close the door again. It’s too cold to leave it open, and both dogs are more than capable of letting themselves back in.
When I turn around, Logan’s jaw is even more tight, his movements stiffer.
For a second I seriously consider grabbing a coat and stepping outside into the cold just to escape the tension in the room.
Before I can decide, River pipes up.
“Mommy, down.”
I force a smile and move to him, lifting him gently from the counter and setting him on the floor.
Then I glance at Logan, “Where were you?”
He doesn’t look up. “Not now.”
The finality in his voice makes me flinch.
I catch Myles watching us with wide, curious eyes, and I swallow the rest of my questions.
“Okay,” I whisper.
Not now.
Logan
It takes every ounce of love I have for my children to get through breakfast.
River chatters nonstop, completely oblivious, while Myles keeps glancing between Jess and me with those big, assessing eyes of his. He’s only five, but the way he’s watching us makes it feel like he knows something’s off.
My forced smile is just starting to slip when my phone buzzes with a text.
Relieved for the distraction, I push back from the counter and start collecting plates.
“Okay, boys,” I say, clapping my hands together. “I’ve got a surprise for y’all.”
Both of them look at me with instantly hopeful expressions.
Jess looks confused, but I ignore her for now.
Right on cue, there’s a knock at the door.
“Well, who could that be?” I ask.
The boys take off running. I watch as Myles stretches up to unlock the door, and the second it swings open, he bursts out, “Grandpa!”
