Page 26 of Daddy Detectives: Episode 1

We find Ian standing beside the playpen staring down at the babies.

“Oh, sweetie,” my mom says as she walks up to him and puts her hand on his back. “Are you okay?”

“Just a bit sore,” he says. “I hit a brick wall.”

I steer Ian to the sofa. “Please sit before you fall down. Can I get you something to eat or drink?”

He shakes his head. “Not food. I don’t think I could eat anything right now.”

“Oh, you poor baby,” Mom says as she sits beside him and takes one of his hands in hers.

Ian lifts his eyes to me. “Do we have any hot chocolate?”

“We do.” Hot chocolate is Ian’s comfort drink. His mom—hisadoptedmom, Eleanor—used to make it for him when he was young and struggling emotionally.

Ingrid pats Ian’s thigh as she shoots to her feet. “I’ll make it, sweetie.” Then she eyes me. “You sit with him, Tyler.” She asks Ian, “Do you want it made with water or milk?”

“He likes it made with milk,” I say, answering for him. “And with mini marshmallows. There’s a bag of them in the cupboard.”

Ian’s staring down at his hands, which are clasped tightly in his lap. He looks like he’s shutting down completely. Ihaven’t seen Ian this upset in a long time—not since Roy Valdez attempted to attack him on his yacht.

I sit beside him and put my arm across his shoulders. He instantly melts into me. At least he’s no longer shaking.

“You saved me tonight,” he says, his voice so quiet I can barely make out the words.

I tighten my hold on him. “I guess that’s only fair sinceyousavedme.”

He eyes me. “When did I ever save you?”

“You saved me from myself. You saved me from loneliness.”

A hint of a smile curves his lips. “I guess I did do that.”

“Yeah, you did.” I lean my head against his.

“If I’d died tonight—”

“You didn’t.”

“No, but if I had, our kids would have grown up without me.” Ian shudders. “And what ifyouhad died? I can’t do this parenting thing without you.”

I turn to face him, my hands on his shoulders. “Ian, you have to let this go. You can’t dwell on it because it will only drive you crazy. Yes, what happened tonight was traumatic, but we were lucky. We’re both okay.”

He gives me a hint of a smile, which is reassuring. “Weren’t you the big hero tonight? Again.”

“I promised I’d keep you safe. I was just keeping my word.”

I lay my arm across his shoulders and pull him to me, letting him rest in my arms as he processes what happened.

Before long, Ingrid returns to the living room carrying a tray holding three mugs. She sets the tray on the coffee table. “I made enough for all of us. I think we need to make a toast.”

I hand a mug to Ian, then take one for myself.

Mom sits on Ian’s other side and raises her mug. “To life, health, and happiness.”

“I’ll drink to that,” Ian says with a grateful smile.

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