Chapter 1
The phone vibrated again,
sliding another inch across the glass table,
until it almost reached the edge.
Marianne watched it with wide eyes,
and she placed a warm hand on my arm.
"Ryan,"
she whispered softly,
"why is your aunt calling so many times?"
I did not answer right away,
because I was watching the bedroom door down the hall,
where my children were hiding.
I picked up the phone,
and I swiped the screen to decline the call,
sending Carol straight to voicemail.
"I sent an email,"
I finally said,
keeping my voice steady and low.
Marianne frowned,
and she tilted her head in confusion.
"What kind of email?"
she asked,
her eyes searching my face for answers.
I reached out,
and I tucked a strand of hair behind her ear,
feeling the soft warmth of her skin.
"The kind that stops her luxury high-rise project,"
I told her,
watching the shock register in her beautiful eyes.
"You pulled your guarantor support?"
she gasped,
her hand flying up to cover her mouth.
"I did exactly what I had to do,"
I replied,
feeling a deep sense of calm settle over my chest.
For years,
I had let my aunt dictate the family dynamics,
because it was easier than fighting a war.
But today,
she had declared war on my children,
and I was not going to surrender.
The phone lit up again,
and this time it was my mother calling,
probably acting as a messenger for Carol.
I pressed the power button,
and I turned the device completely off,
plunging the living room into a peaceful silence.
"They are going to be furious,"
Marianne said,
though there was a tiny spark of pride in her voice.
"Let them be furious,"
I answered,
pulling her into a tight embrace.
"They sat there and watched our kids cry,"
I continued,
feeling the anger rise up in my throat all over again.
"Nobody defended you,"
I said,
"and nobody defended Lily or Ethan."
Marianne rested her head against my chest,
and she let out a long,
shaky breath.
"I just wanted a normal Easter,"
she whispered,
and a single tear fell onto my shirt.
"I know,"
I said,
rubbing her back in slow,
comforting circles.
Suddenly,
the hallway door creaked open,
and Lily peeked her head around the corner.
Her face was still flushed from crying,
and she was holding a stuffed bunny tightly against her chest.
"Daddy,"
she asked quietly,
"are you mad at us?"
My heart broke into a million pieces,
and I dropped to my knees immediately,
opening my arms as wide as I could.
"Never,"
I promised,
and she ran across the room to hug me.
Ethan followed right behind her,
his small jaw still clenched tight,
trying to be the brave older brother.
I pulled him into the hug too,
and I held my entire world in my arms.
"You two are the best things that ever happened to me,"
I told them,
making sure they heard the absolute truth in my voice.
"Aunt Carol was wrong,"
May you like
I said,
"and she is going to learn a very hard lesson about what family really means."
