Page 25 of Shuttered Hearts

Caleb doesn’t argue with me and heads inside while I make my way over to the circle and find a place between two kids across from Emily.

Our eyes meet. It doesn’t matter if we continue with this party or call parents to come pick the kids up early. It’s going to be a long night.

thirteen

QUINN

I’m not entirelysure what I expected when I walk into the house. I definitely thought I would hear voices, but it’s quiet as I close the door behind me. I glance up the stairs but think better of it. Dad hasn’t been sleeping upstairs because of his cast. He wouldn’t have been able to follow Max up there, and I know Dad wouldn’t let him process this by himself, not without talking about it first.

When I reach the kitchen and look over to the living room, I find the two of them on the couch. Dad is leaning back, his leg resting on the coffee table, and Max is curled up into his side, hugging him tightly.

I stand in the kitchen, my heart quietly tearing in two.

I’ve never once questioned the love my dad has for Max. Dad has always treated him the same as Caleb and me, but I think the two of them share a closeness Caleb and I could never understand. Not through anything intentional, but naturally, considering Max was essentially an only child after Caleb and I moved out of the house. We never had Dad all to ourselves. Forme, there was always Mom and Caleb, and for Caleb, there had always been Mom and me, minus those first four years of life before I was born, but Mom had still been there.

Dad glances over and sees me. “Hey, Bean,” he says quietly. “Come join us.”

I shake my head. “No, I don’t want to interrupt you two. I’ll go check on Emily and Caleb outside.”

Max pulls back from Dad’s side, wiping his face before he turns to look at me. It’s clear he’s been crying, but they must have been sitting there quietly for a bit, giving Max time to calm down, because when he speaks, his voice, while quiet, is clear. He surprises me by offering a small smile. “Will you come sit with us first?”

“Okay.” I make my way to them and sit on the couch next to Max. I pull him into a fierce hug without giving him a chance to say or do anything else. “I love you, buddy. You’re my favorite.”

“Hey now!” I hear Caleb shout from the back door in the kitchen. “That’s not nice.” Caleb comes around the corner of the couch and sits on the coffee table in front of Max. I see the tension in how he’s holding himself, but there’s a soft smile on his face. “You told me I was your favorite yesterday.” He winks at Max, showing him he’s joking.

Trying to follow along, I smile. “Well, today, Max is my favorite. It is his birthday, after all.”

Max pushes out of my arms, looking down at his hands in his lap. “Guys, you don’t have to do this.”

Dad reaches out to him, resting a hand on his back. “Max and I had a good talk. He knows it doesn’t matter if I’m his biological father or not. He’s my son in every way that matters, and there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for him, or either of you.” His tone leaves no room for argument.

Max looks at Dad and throws himself into his arms for another quick hug. “I know.” He pulls back and looks at Caleband then me. “I love you both.” He hugs Caleb and me before sitting back on the couch.

“I love you too, bud,” Caleb says, ruffling his hair.

“I love you more, and I wouldn’t trade you for anything,” I tell him, pushing him slightly, trying to keep the mood light.

“All right, that’s enough of that lovey-dovey crap,” Dad jokes, grabbing his crutches and pulling himself up to stand. “What do you want to do, Max? Want to go back outside and finish your party, or do you want to be by yourself for a bit?”

“I want to go back to the party.” He glances over at me, a mischievous smile growing on his face. “I wouldn’t want to put Quinn’s efforts to waste. She’s missed so many birthdays. I know she’s got more tricks up her sleeve to make it up to me.”

“Hey!” I reach out to grab him, but he’s too fast, springing up from the couch before running out the back door, laughing as if nothing happened. As I turn back to Dad, the smile on my face fades. “Is he really okay? Or is he putting on a brave face for us?”

“Considering everything, I think he’s doing all right. You know how he is. He needs time to analyze everything, but once he does, he’ll be good.” Dad makes his way to the back door but stops, watching everyone out back. “He’s too young to have to go through all of this at the same time. Learning the truth about his parentage, his mother who abandoned him returning out of the blue”—he releases a deep sigh—“his father dying. It’s not fair to him.”

Caleb stands from the coffee table and joins Dad by the door. “It’s not fair to any of us, most of all you, but we’ll make it through, one day at a time.” He places his hand on Dad’s shoulder. “You’re not gone yet, so don’t go rushing it on us.”

I’m not one to believe in karma, but if I did, Dad being diagnosed with cancer would definitely give me pause in that belief. If there is one person I know who deserves to live a long,healthy life, it’s my dad. Yes, he’s made mistakes, but if anyone says they haven’t, they’re living in denial.

No, Dad has made mistakes, but nothing so egregious you can’t forgive, and he’s always the first person to admit when he’s made a mistake. Dad is the best man I know. He’s always put his family first, always doing whatever he can for Caleb, Max, and me. I’ve never questioned whether he would be there if I needed him. I can talk to him about anything, even things I never thought I could talk to him about.

No, if this is unfair to anyone, it’s unfair to him. He’s going to miss out on so much of our lives. Things I know he’s dreamed of experiencing with us. Things we all assumed he would be here for, because he always has been. I’ll never understand how the world works, and while I don’t want to, I wish I could understand this.

“You’re right. For now, I’m happy and still able to be in your lives. So we’ll focus on that.” Dad looks over at me, still sitting on the couch. “Did your mother say anything else? I didn’t mean for you to stay out there to deal with her. I didn’t want Max?—”

“Dad, stop. You were exactly where you needed to be,” I interrupt him before he can spiral. “She said this wasn’t over and she would get her son back. I think she wanted to say more, but Declan can be intimidating. Who knew?” I shrug, forcing a smile I don’t feel at the moment.

“I mean, have you seen how tall he is? That alone can be intimidating.” Caleb tries to match my mood, but we’re all struggling. And the look on Dad’s face wipes the smile from both of ours. “Dad, it’s going to be okay. We’ll figure it out, and until then, we have each other, just like we always have.”

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