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The message landed like a knife in my gut. They were willing to keep Seth. They wanted Luke gone.

I sat very still, letting their concerned faces blur for a second. These weren’t cruel people. They were overwhelmed, doing their best in a system that wasn’t built for boys like mine.

“That’s fine,” I said. “I’ll find another school for the boys.”

Mr. Thompson blinked. “Mrs. Kincaid, just to clarify, Seth is welcome to stay. His academics are strong, and with the right supports…”

“They’re brothers.”

I met each of their eyes in turn. Luke hadn’t come from my body, but he was mine in every way that mattered. Blood had never been the deciding factor.

They exchanged surprised glances, but didn’t push.

“We understand,” Mr. Thompson said softly. “We’ll prepare the paperwork and those referrals. Please let us know how we can help with the transition.”

The meeting wrapped quickly after that. Concerned handshakes, offers of more meetings, promises to email resources. I thanked them genuinely. They weren’t the enemy.

We walked back to the car, the boys got in quickly. Luke had his feet up on the seat. Seth stared out the window.

I started the engine but didn’t head straight home. The thought of facing Richard right now, of telling him the school wanted Luke gone and watching that cool composure of his crack even more, made my stomach twist. This would be the third school because of Luke’s behavior. I couldn’t face it yet.

“Let’s go to the park for a bit,” I said, forcing cheer into my voice.

The boys didn’t question it. On the car ride over I explained to them that they would have to transfer to a new school again. Their faces remained calm in the rearview mirror, small reflections of resilience. They had learned early that questions often led to answers better left unspoken.

At the park, they spilled out like any other kids. Luke raced straight for the swings, pumping his legs hard and shouting challenges at imaginary enemies. Seth followed more quietly, but he stayed close, always within reach of his little brother.

I sat on a bench, watching them. Luke was climbing the monkey bars, laughing that wild laugh of his, smart and sweet when he wanted to be. But that temper… it flared so fast.

I wondered if his mother’s mental illness had wired something in him that I couldn’t fix. He had Richard’s fire, that same unpredictable side. Richard had never laid a hand on me. Not once, but the anger came out in quieter ways now. Ever since Luke came into our lives, I’d started seeing the mask slip. The man I fell for, who was once so composed and cool when we first met, was showing a different side.

Seth lingered near the slide, observant as always, then helped Luke when he got stuck on a rung. Even though Seth was only ten months older, he was fiercely protective, shadowing his brother without making a fuss. They played together so happily, Seth with his dark hair and Luke with his blonde hair, but still brothers through and through.

My chest ached. Seth was so intelligent and quiet, just like my father. I regretted our last argument more than I could say. I’d defended Richard so fiercely. But my father had been right. I should’ve waited. Now I was living with the consequences of that choice, trying to hold everything together while the world outside our home started seeing the fractures.

After a while, I stood and called the boys over. We started along the gravel path that circled the playground.

Luke raced ahead, his small legs pumping with that boundless energy only children seemed to possess, kicking up dust along the path. Seth lingered for a moment, then quietly fell back until he was walking beside me. His little hand brushed mine before he finally looked up.

“Did I do something wrong?”

His question hurt more than I expected. I stopped immediately, kneeling so we were eye to eye on the gravel.

“No, sweetheart,” I whispered, cupping his face. His skin was still warm from running, cheeks flushed, those dark eyes like his father, searching mine with a seriousness no child should carry.

Seth’s voice cracked just a little. “Then why are we leaving our school? I liked it there.”

I pulled him into my arms, holding him tight against my chest as the breeze stirred the leaves overhead. Luke circled back, slowing when he saw us, suddenly uncertain. I opened one arm and he stepped in too, both of them pressed close.

“Where one of you goes,” I said softly, “both of you go.”

I returned to the bench and stayed there for a long while after that, letting them run and play, dreading the conversation waiting at home.

No matter what Richard would say or do, I knew one thing for certain: I would keep fighting for both of them.

Chapter 36

Richard