Page 61 of Kade

I shook my head, deciding that I needed a drink. “Nothing.”

Maddy was chewing her bottom lip.

I crossed to her and brushed some hair from her forehead. Giving her a kiss there, I said, “I’m sorry. I’m all good. I’m glad you came to the office today.”

“Are you sure, Dad?” She twisted around to look up at me from her chair.

I nodded. “I’m sure, sweetie.”

Sam was continuing to frown at me, but I ignored her and Logan for a moment. I kept scanning, finding Nolan and Nash at the top of the stairs. When confrontations happened, they could always be found on the stairs. It had been their perch since they were three.

I headed for them. As I did, Taylor was coming from behind them.

Mark and Cass picked up their fighting, but I tuned them out except I heard Mark huff, “Don’t bring my mother into this.”

I watched in real time as Taylor clued into the drama. She gripped the stair rail and stopped behind my twins. Nash scooted over for her, but she met my gaze, seemed to considerher options, and then sat down beside him. Immediately, he melted into her side.

Nolan, though, was fighting back tears. As soon as our gazes met, she flew down the stairs and launched herself at me. “Dad!”

I caught her. She was all gangly legs and skinny arms. She shuddered in my arms. “What’s wrong?” I asked.

She shook her head, unfolding her legs and slid down to stand on the ground. She kept her arms wrapped around my waist, her face pressed into me.

Sam came over to join us, running a hand down her hair. “Honey? What’s wrong?” She whispered to me, “What happened earlier with you?”

Nolan just hugged me tighter, but she looked up, her eyes bouncing between us.

I met Sam’s gaze over her head, but I couldn’t answer. Not here.

“Nolan, honey.” I bent down and nudged her a little. “You need to give us a clue what’s going on or your mom and I are going to have a heart attack—”

Sam slapped my shoulder, and she glared at me. “Are you kidding me? You pick that choice of words?”

She was under the impression the kids thought their grandpa died from a heart attack. I took her hand in mine and whispered, “They know.”

“What?” Sam went rigid.

I nodded. “They’ve known since before we told them anything. Nolan knew.”

Sam sucked in her breath, comprehension dawning. Then remorse. “Oh, honey.”

Nolan detached completely from me and wrapped her arms around her mother.

“Sweetie. Is this about that—”

Nolan looked up at Sam and then me. “I just had a bad dream. I was napping.”

Movement caught our attention from the stairs.

Nash came down with Taylor behind him.

I frowned. “Wha—”

She reached out, touching my chin. “What did you do to yourself? You and your brother.”

Sam winced. “I tried my best.”

My bruises. Sam had bandaged me up last night. Taylor did that for a living.

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