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“Uh, do you wanna step in?”

Mollie frowned and turned around. “Nah. A little fear will do him good.”

“I’m gonna guess Henry is about to follow and tell them to be careful.” Wren turned too.

Henry did exactly that.

“They’re fine. Probably. If they get injured, it builds character.” Mollie was unconcerned. I shrugged and turned back to them. “Plus, Henry’s a doctor. He can handle it.”

“All right then.”

“Are you finally gonna tell us everything?”

“He’s a sperm donor.”

Both of them only stared. “Huh?” Mollie asked.

“He wasn’t supposed to be their dad. A friend wanted kids alone. He helped.”

“So, an actual sperm donor?”

“Then how does he have custody?” Wren asked.

“The mom died. I don’t know many details, but the girls only know him as their mom’s friend. That’s why they’re so resistant to him.”

“But not as bad with other people,” Mollie finished. “Oh, shit.”

“I know that I could walk away and not do anything. I don’t have to help, but we were friends for a long time before he left. He’s exhausted and he’s lost. Plus, they like me.”

“Still,” Wren said.

“No, I get it,” Mollie added. “I’m guessing you’re still angry with him about leaving, but you feel bad for the rest of it.”

“Exactly,” I said. “He had to be desperate to come back here. Now I see why.”

Mollie and Wren looked at each other. I waited to receive whatever judgment they agreed on.

“This is a terrible idea, but I see your point.” Wren crossed her arms. “Do you even like kids?”

“I do. I’ve always wanted them.”

She opened her mouth, likely to ask if I was sure about that. Many people doubted how much I wanted kids, Gabriel included.

She didn’t get a chance to.

Out of my peripheral vision, I saw that the two girls had split off. Agnes was playing with Jasmine, but Beatrice was quietly walking toward something.

“Beatrice!” I said as I got to my feet. “Don’t you dare get into that tree.”

I didn’t even need to turn and look at her to know what she was doing.

“I like being tall!”

“Then get over here.” I turned back to my friends. “I hate to cut this short, but I have a child to distract.”

Beatrice huffed when she saw me. “What?”

I hauled her up and put her on my shoulders. She was heavy as fuck, but I’d deal.