(Lydia)“Let’s open the presents!” Adam exclaimed and the twins ran in his direction. They were jumping and clapping with glee and Adam laid out each one of their gifts and helped them unwrap it. Jack stood there commentating on every single present and recording a video of the unwrapping. And for once, Thomas was surprisingly calm despite Adam’s presence and involvement in his children’s lives.I was relieved. I was glad that everything was about my children right now – about their happiness, celebrating them, cheering them on their accomplishments, and about generally creating a loving and nurturing atmosphere for them to grow up in. I was glad that Thomas and Adam weren’t passing each other looks or otherwise making jabs at each other. And I was glad that the twins were too preoccupied with their presents to bother asking who my mother was.I was not prepared to have that conversation with them right now. I wanted to give things a bit more time before I brought their maternal gr
(Thomas)As the cartoon movie began to play, I felt the strangest sense of déjà vu. I felt as though I had read the book that this movie was adapted from. My mind flashed back to a little hardback in baby blue with golden stars. Yes, I definitely know this story.I leaned towards Jack, who was seated on my right. “Have we watched this movie before?” I whispered to him.He chuckled slightly before he responded, “Of course, Thomas. This is one of Lydia’s all-time favorites – book and movie both!”I turned my eyes towards Lydia. Her face was beaming with a childlike delight and wonder. Her eyes were shining as bright as stars.I smiled softly at my beautiful wife.***The further we dove into the movie, the more I started remembering things.Lydia brought the book up from the library. It was the morning after she had told me that I was going to be a father. The room was bright and sunny and the light caught fire on her red hair.Her angelic blue eyes shone through the pleased smile on he
(Lydia)The room cheered when I carried the drinks inside. I laughed. I had not felt this relaxed and happy in weeks. It felt nice to be surrounded by the people who I was close to.“You did a spectacular job today, Lyddie!” Adam exclaimed, “With hosting the movie night, I mean.”“What you really mean,” said Jack with a grin, “Is that she did a great job at making all of us cry!”Everyone laughed at his quip.“I consider this a great accomplishment,” I said, walking into the center of the room, “Making grown men like yourselves shed tears!”The men in the room groaned and shouted in protest. Ruby was bent over double laughing. I had really missed all this banter and fun.Adam and I began discussing the decorations that I had in mind for the living room. He had been helping me set up the furniture so far.“I think that you should install a light on that wall,” he said, pointing in front of us. I pulled out an image that I had saved on my phone and showed it to him.“I was meaning to ge
(Lydia)Mama was still awake when I entered the hotel. She dragged a long puff of a cigarette and then tipped it against an ashtray, which was full already. An empty pack sat on the table next to it. She had already opened a second one. How come she didn’t get lung cancer?She looked briefly at me and then turned her gaze away, staring off into the distance.The silence stretched between us. I could not help but stare.I knew that what I had done was hurtful, but had she not pushed her boundaries? And was she not, at this very minute, acting like the same cold and distant person that she had been to me all her life?What would it take for her to, just once, treat me like a daughter? To display some warmth and affection the way she had when I was a very small child?It dawned upon that perhaps that person had frozen still deep inside of her. Maybe, it was my charge to bring her back to the surface.“I’ve booked an appointment for you, Mama,” I said, “with the best oncologist in the sta
(Lydia)“I asked – the chauffeur … to take me to Sarah’s house last night,” he garbled, “I -- there was so much water – I woke up – she had been silent … I didn’t … I don’t know – I didn’t see -- SHE TOOK SLEEPING PILLS WHILE I WAS PASSED OUT!”I looked back at the stretcher that had already been wheeled inside. Sarah was in good hands now. She would be taken care of.But Thomas was clearly very shaken. I put a hand on his arm and looked comfortingly at him. Mama looked very concerned.“Why don’t we sit down by that bench?” I suggested. I led Thomas to the bench and Mama and I sat down on either side of him. It was late in the afternoon and a few birds were chirping in the trees.“Now, could you slowly tell me what happened?” I said. I kept my voice as gentle as I could. Thomas looked very white and his eyes were frantic and deranged.Thomas drew in a deep breath, exhaled, and then began to speak. “I went to Sarah’s house last night. I wanted to end things with her. Of course, I would
(Lydia)Adam had brought the kids over when we arrived home. His car was parked outside. When Mama and I walked in, the twins were chasing Adam in the lobby. “Tag, you’re it!” said Mabel as she caught up to Adam and touched his hand.They all looked at us as we walked in. “Mabel, Miles,” I said, smiling broadly, “This is your grandmamma.”Both of the twins looked at me wide-eyed. “We have another gramma?” Mabel asked in awe.“Yes,” I replied, “This is Mommy’s Mommy.”The twins jumped and screamed in delight. They instantly ran up to Mama and hugged her legs.Mama laughed and picked them up – one in each arm. I was worried about her feeble frame carrying so much weight and mouthed “Bring a sofa” to Adam.He nodded, immediately understanding, and dashed off into the living room. A few seconds later, he was dragging the large sofa out. I helped him put it in the center of the lobby and Mama sat down with the twins on either side of her. Mabel and Miles were chattering incessantly.“We go
(Lydia)Miles and Mabel were very happy to see their father. They ran up to him. He laughed and picked them both up.“So what’s up?” he asked and the twins began chattering with him.My heart warmed up at the way that being close to his children instantly brightened Thomas up. The tiredness that had been there before seemed to vanish as he listened to his daughter prattle on about her new interests and projects. His deep smile reached the creases of his eyes as his son hopped down from his arms and went to fetch his new toys to show to him.I felt myself smiling and checked myself.I could understand Thomas’s need for comfort right now. He had witnessed one of his oldest friends almost kill herself. But I shouldn’t let his vulnerability bring down my armor. After all, I reminded myself again, he and I could never end up together.He could only be here for the children.“How’s Margaret coping with the news?” I asked him when Mabel trotted off to find her brother. Apparently he was tak
(Lydia)I was up long after Mama had gone to sleep. I was still thinking about the conversation that we had had. The house was empty and quiet. I loved the silence of my home. It felt peaceful. And my home had started to cozier after I had hung up and laid out decorations everywhere. I was wandering in the lobby with a sheet of dialogues that I had meant to go through. But, for some reason, I couldn’t concentrate.I looked outside the window. A slight fog was settling in the atmosphere which cast a golden hue from the glare of the street lights.I turned around when I heard a door creak open. Thomas was standing in the doorframe.His clothes were wrinkled and his hair was a mess, as though he had been tossing and turning in bed.His eyes were doleful and intent.“Lydia,” the quiet carried his voice to me at the other end of the hallway.He began walking towards me. I could not say a single word. This was the man who I had loved, the father of my children, and the one who had divorced
(Thomas)The last time I saw Jack, he was deflecting my questions about what had happened to leave him injured and refusing any professional help. Typical Jack, always shielding others from his chaos, carrying the weight of his decisions like a stubborn mule. I knocked firmly on his apartment door, which was closed this time, knowing he’d hear the sound even through the thick, industrial-style door. After a moment, the door creaked open. Jack stood there, shirtless, a fresh bandage wrapped around his side. He looked tired but not beaten. That was my brother, gritty, relentless, and unyielding even when life knocked him down.“Thomas,” he greeted with a nod, stepping aside to let me in, “Didn’t expect you to drop by.”“Clearly,” I replied, gesturing to his appearance, “You could’ve at least put on a shirt for the occasion.”He smirked faintly, closing the door behind me. Jack’s apartment was neat but lived-in, a mix of modern decor and personal touches that reflected Jack’s no-nonsen
(Lydia)The morning passed quietly, but my mind was anything but still. Talking to Mama in the garden earlier had eased some of the heaviness pressing down on my chest, but it hadn’t erased it entirely. It felt like smoothing a wrinkle in fabric only to have another one pop up. There were so many reasons for my hesitance, and the biggest one gnawed at me: I hadn’t told Thomas. I could still see his face from last night, relaxed and content, the way his eyes crinkled when he smiled at me over dinner. It had been a perfect evening, something we hadn’t shared in a long time. I hadn’t wanted to taint it with this...complication. But now, the silence I’d kept about Clara weighed on me like a stone. I stirred my coffee absently at the kitchen counter, staring out at the bright day outside. Mabel and Miles were at preschool, their laughter and chatter missing from the house, leaving it quieter than usual. Thomas had kissed me on the forehead before leaving for work, his expression one of
(Thomas)The faint hum of my office phone was drowned out by the stack of emails I had been working through since the moment I arrived at work. The buzz of productivity was always welcome, a way to focus my mind, especially after the whirlwind of emotions from last night. The date with Lydia had been everything I hoped it would be, a moment of calm amid the chaos. I found myself smiling as I clicked through a report, her laughter from last night still echoing in my mind. It had been a while since I’d seen her truly happy, her guard down, and it reminded me of why I fought so hard to protect what we had built together. My cell phone vibrated on the desk, breaking my thoughts. I glanced at the screen: Aiden. That name always brought a mix of feelings. Reassurance, because he was a solid ally, and apprehension, because his calls often came with heavy news. I picked up, leaning back in my chair, "Aiden, what’s the update?" His voice was steady but carried an edge, like a surgeon
(Adeline)The front garden was always my favorite place to sit, especially in the morning. The air carried a crisp freshness, and the soft rustle of leaves felt like nature’s whisper of reassurance. Today, I felt lighter, less weighed down by the fog of fatigue that had wrapped around me since the surgery. A week had passed, and though I knew there was still a long road ahead, scans, radiotherapy, and who knew what else, I was grateful for small mercies like this. Lydia sat beside me, her posture relaxed but her eyes distant. She should have been glowing after her date with Thomas last night; I’d seen her excitement all day leading up to it. Yet, there was something off about her today, a subtle undercurrent of worry she couldn’t quite hide. I reached over and patted her hand, drawing her out of her thoughts, “You seem troubled, my dear. What’s on your mind?” She blinked, then gave me a soft smile, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes, “Nothing to worry about, Mama. Just…think
(Margaret)The mansion was quiet, its grand halls and rooms bathed in moonlight, but I was still awake, as I often was these days. Sleep came sparingly. I’d taken to wandering the mansion late at night, a habit born of restlessness and regret. Tonight, I found myself seated in the parlor, nursing a lukewarm cup of tea, when I heard the faint creak of the front door. Ruby. Her steps were light but purposeful, and as she crossed into the hallway, I caught a glimpse of her face. She looked lost in thought, her brow furrowed, her lips pressed into a thin line. There was something about her expression that tugged at me, a pang I couldn’t quite place but that settled uncomfortably in my chest. “Ruby,” I called gently, my voice cutting through the stillness. She froze for a moment, her back to me, before turning slightly, her posture tense. Her eyes met mine briefly, a flicker of something unreadable passing through them, before she resumed her stride, heading toward the staircase.
(Jack)The room was bathed in the muted glow of the television, the credits of the movie rolling silently on the screen. Ruby lay beside me, her head resting lightly against my shoulder, her breathing slow and even as she slept. I didn’t dare move. Instead, I let my gaze linger on her, taking in the soft lines of her face, the way her lashes rested against her cheeks, the slight rise and fall of her chest. Her hair framed her face, catching the dim light in a way that made her look almost ethereal. I shouldn’t be doing this, shouldn’t let myself get caught up in the illusion. But in that moment, it felt impossible not to. For years, this apartment had been a space I’d tried to keep void of emotion, a place where I could compartmentalize my life, separate work from personal chaos. But Ruby had changed that. When she’d been here, this place had felt alive, warm. And now, with her asleep beside me, it felt like a dream I didn’t want to wake up from.My mind wandered back to the few
(Ruby)I stood outside Jack’s apartment door, my hand hesitating over the knocker. I shouldn’t be here. I’d already done more than enough, stitched him up, watching him avoid my questions like he always did. But despite every logical reason to stay away, I was here. Because this wasn’t just anyone, it was Jack. The Jack who had once made me laugh so hard I cried, who had shared countless quiet evenings with me in this very apartment. The Jack who, despite all the hurt and chaos, still managed to make my heart skip a beat when I thought of him. I pressed my lips together, pushing the memories aside. This wasn’t about rekindling anything; it was about making sure he was okay. He had shown up at my door injured and vulnerable, and no matter how much time had passed or how complicated things had gotten, I couldn’t ignore that. Taking a deep breath, I knocked. When Jack opened the door, his surprise was clear, though he quickly masked it with that practiced cool demeanor of his.
(Jack)I sat on the edge of my couch, staring at the bandage on my side, frustration boiling just beneath the surface. The room was quiet, save for the faint hum of the refrigerator in the kitchen. The family doctor had left about an hour ago after re-dressing my wound. He was efficient and professional, as always, and I appreciated the care. But damn it, why hadn’t I thought to call him in the first place? The moment I got injured, my instincts hadn’t pointed me toward practicality or logic. No, instead, I’d ended up at Ruby’s apartment, bloodied and in desperate need of stitches. I didn’t even remember the exact route I’d taken to get there, just that I had. Like my brain had been hardwired to seek her out, even when it made no sense. It embarrassed me now. Ruby had been nothing but calm and steady as she stitched me up, but I could tell how unsettled she was underneath that brave exterior. And I’d put her in that position, dragged her into something she had no business being
(Lydia)The drive back to the mansion felt electric, charged with an energy I couldn’t quite put into words. Thomas’s hand rested on my thigh as he navigated the quiet streets, his fingers brushing gently against my skin. Neither of us said much; the connection between us was palpable without needing words. By the time we reached the house and stepped through the door, it was as if the air around us crackled with anticipation. Ruby had left a note on the counter saying the kids were asleep and she’d see us tomorrow. I smiled, grateful for her support, but my focus was entirely on Thomas. As soon as the door to our bedroom clicked shut behind us, it was like a dam broke. His lips were on mine in an instant, hot and urgent, pulling me into him as if the space between us was unbearable. My hands found their way to his shoulders, then his hair, as I pressed closer, feeling the hard lines of his body against mine. “Lydia,” he murmured, his voice low and thick with desire. I didn’t