Page 183 of Undisputed Chaos
As we took our seats, I noted the strategic positioning that spoke of old habits carefully maintained, but also the easy intimacy of people who'd chosen to trust each other completely.
"So," I said as the wine was poured and the first course served, “Tell me everything. And don't spare the details. I've waited too long to hear these stories."
What followed was the comfortable rhythm of family.
Stories shared, gentle teasing, the kind of conversation that couldn't be manufactured or forced. But it was the small moments that told the real story.
The way Connor automatically cut Sierra’s meal into smaller pieces for her.
How Estelle anticipated Leo's needs before he voiced them, the maternal instincts that had drawn my son like a moth to flame.
The silent communication between Adrian and Isla that spoke of complete understanding.
These women hadn't just captured my sons' hearts; they'd healed them.
They'd taken three broken boys who'd learned to survive on violence and rage, or arrogance in Jax’s case, and they'd taught them how to live on love.
"Adrian," Leo said suddenly, chocolate cake in front of him, "when are you and Isla getting married?"
The table fell silent, all eyes turning to Adrian, who had the grace to look slightly embarrassed.
His hand found Isla's, the protective gesture that spoke of claims already made.
"We're working on it, buddy,” Adrian said, giving Leo a grin. “There’s a waiting period first.”
"How long?” Leo pressed with the relentless logic of childhood. "Jax and Elle aren't married either. Are you waiting for Grandpa to get married first?"
The innocent observation hit closer to home than I cared to admit, but it was Estelle's quiet gasp that caught my attention.
She was staring at Leo with something like horror, clearly worried that his comment had offended me.
I laughed, the sound rich and genuinely amused, but underneath it was something rawer.
"I'm afraid I'm not the marrying type, young man. That particular pleasure belongs to your family here.”
But even as I said it, I found myself thinking of the loneliness that had driven me to the Caribbean, the emptiness that no amount of beautiful companions could fill.
Perhaps Leo, in his innocent wisdom, had touched on something I'd been avoiding.
"But everyone finds someone,” Leo insisted, his five-year-old certainty unshakeable. "Someone nice, like in the movies.”
The simple faith, the absolute belief that happiness was possible for everyone, even a man like me, was quite cute.
"Perhaps I could," I agreed diplomatically, but my eyes found Estelle's across the table.
She was watching me with something like understanding, as if she recognized the loneliness I'd hidden well.
"We should focus on getting these layabouts properly wed first," I continued, raising my glass. "What do you think, Leo?"
He nodded solemnly, clearly taking his role as family consultant seriously.
“I think Isla should wear a big white dress and Adrian should wear a cool suit instead of those weird shirts."
"Hey!" Adrian protested, gesturing to his current ensemble—a crop top that declared"CHAOS COORDINATOR"in glittering letters. "My fashion sense is avant-garde."
"It's something," Connor muttered, earning a bright smile from Sierra.
As the evening progressed and we moved to the terrace, I studied Estelle.
