23. Knox

Seth Cappes knelton the front porch, taking his daughter into his arms like he hadn’t been ignoring her for the month since Larkin moved to town. And even though he had the most precious child in his embrace, his eyes were on me, like he was trying to send me a message. Like he was staking a claim.

I glanced back to Larkin to see how she was reacting, and her lips were parted in shock, hand holding on to a screeching Jackson. He wanted something but couldn’t communicate it. Or maybe he was upset by all the emotions flying around the room.

Readjusting her grip, Larkin walked toward me, standing beside me at the door to see Seth as he stood up, holding Emily on his hip.

“Daddy, where have you been?” she asked, a scolding tone to her voice.

Seth said, “I’ve been busy with work, Em,” his eyes still moving between Larkin and me. “I guess your mommy’s been busy too.”

My hands curled into fists at my side. This sorry excuse of a man had no business making comments like that about the woman carrying the weight of his poor decisions.

Larkin’s voice cut through the red fog of my silent outrage. “Seth, what are you doing here?” There was a shaking tone, like she was somewhere between worried and angry. Her expression pinched uncomfortably, and Jackson continued wailing.

Seth’s lips were in a smug smirk. “Are you going to let me in to see my children?”

I waited for Larkin to nod before stepping out of the way. Suddenly, her cozy living room, which I’d spent hours cleaning overnight, felt too small for the three of us. There wasn’t enough oxygen to sustain all of us in this small, tense space.

Once Seth was inside, the screen door shut behind him, and he set Emily down. “Give me my big boy,” he said, outstretching his arms for Jackson.

Jackson scrambled away from him, clawing up his mom’s chest and squeezing his arms around her neck as he wordlessly screeched.

Seth’s lips twitched as he shot Larkin an accusatory look. “What have you been telling him about me?”

Larkin stared at him incredulously. “Outside. Now.” Her voice was a deadly growl. Her voice softened only slightly as she turned to me. “Knox, hold Jackson please?”

I nodded, and she passed him to me. He barely let go of her before holding on to me for dear life. I could feel his little heart racing against my chest.

“It’s okay, buddy,” I murmured, my lips against his head.

Seth’s pale face was turning redder by the moment, a vein popping in his forehead.

Emily screamed, “Daddy, don’t go!”

But Larkin stood firm, her shoulders square against all the chaos. She knelt in front of Emily, calmly saying, “Your daddy and I need to talk.” She turned her gaze to him. “Now.”

He looked like he didn’t want to move, but one glare from me, and he followed her out the front door. It slammed behind him.

Emily ran to the door, yanking on it, but I reached for her, scooping her up so I held both the kids in my arms. She cried against my shoulder. “I want to see him. I want to see him.” It was like the real Emily wasn’t there anymore, caught in some primal place where she knew the man who made her, the man who should love her and protect her, was outside.

“I know, honey,” I soothed, walking them both away from the front door. “Why don’t you go to your bedroom and pick some of your favorite toys to show your daddy?” My heart ached as I said it, because I truly didn’t know if he would even be back inside with the angry looks he and Larkin had exchanged.

She seemed conflicted, but finally nodded in agreement, running back toward her bedroom. As soon as she was gone, I set Jackson in his playpen and turned on the TV. I wasn’t sure how this was going to turn out, but I damn sure wasn’t making Larkin go through it alone.