The drive home feels too short. I pick up Rory and Corey from after-school care, their excited chatter about their day filling the car. We pull into the apartment complex parking lot and I cut the engine. The twins unbuckle their seatbelts, already arguing about who gets to pick the movie tonight.
Then I see him.
Marcus leans against my apartment door, his arms crossed over his chest, his dark hair perfectly styled, and his brown eyes tracking my approach. He's wearing designer jeans and a fitted button-down that shows off his athletic build, looking every inch the successful businessman he's become.
My steps falter briefly and I suck in a sharp breath. The man everyone thinks fathered my twins is waiting at my door.
26
NOAH
I pull into my apartment complex parking lot after the afternoon with Mia, Jack, and Blake. The memory of her is still fresh in my mind as I park and grab my keys.
Then I see them.
Three small figures sit on my doorstep like refugees from a storm. Maya's dark hair catches the late afternoon sun as she looks up, her brown eyes widening with recognition. Ethan clutches his worn stuffed rabbit against his chest. Sophie bounces to her feet, her curls bouncing with her.
"Noah!" Maya's voice cracks with relief as she runs toward me.
My heart lurches. Behind them, Vanessa leans against the railing, looking like she's aged five years since I last saw her. Dark circles shadow her eyes. Her clothes hang loose on her frame.
"Hey, guys." I crouch down as Sophie crashes into me, her small arms wrapping around my neck with desperate strength. "What's going on?"
"We missed you!" Sophie's voice is muffled against my shoulder.
Maya stands back slightly, trying to be brave, but I see the tremor in her chin. Ethan hasn't moved from the doorstep, his eyes fixed on me with that worried expression I remember too well.
"Noah." Vanessa's voice is rough. "Can we talk?"
I stand, keeping Sophie on my hip. She's heavier than I remember. Four years old now.
Inside my apartment, the kids immediately gravitate toward their old spots. Maya heads for the bookshelf where I used to keep her favorite stories. Ethan curls up in the corner of the couch, his rabbit pressed to his face. Sophie refuses to let go of my neck.
"Vanessa." I set Sophie down gently, ignoring her whimper of protest. "What's going on?"
She turns, and I see her composure crack. Tears spill down her cheeks. "I lost my job. Derek left. We got evicted." Her voice breaks. "I have nowhere to go, Noah. No family. No friends who can help. Just you."
The weight of her words settles over me like a heavy cloak. "How long?"
"A few days. Maybe a week." She wipes her eyes with shaking hands. "I just need time to figure things out. Find a new job. Get a place."
I look at the children. Maya is pretending to read but I see her shoulders tense, listening to every word. Ethan's fingers work the rabbit's worn ear. Sophie has climbed back onto the couch, her thumb in her mouth.
"Please, Noah." Vanessa's voice drops to a whisper. "They've been sleeping in my car. I can't do that to them anymore."
The image hits me like a punch to the gut. "Okay." The word comes out before I can think it through. "They can stay."
Vanessa's relief is palpable. She moves toward me like she might hug me, but I step back. That boundary needs to stay firm.
"Thank you." She's already gathering her purse. "I'll call you tomorrow. Let you know how the job search is going. They have clothes and toiletries in their backpacks."
"Vanessa." I catch her arm. "A few days. That's it."
She nods, but we both know it's a lie. Nothing with Vanessa is ever simple or short-term. She's out the door before I can change my mind, leaving me alone with three children and a situation that's about to complicate my already messy life.
The kids hurry to their old rooms, relief evident on their faces.
This situation is a disaster, but not uncommon when it comes to Vanessa.
