I step out, my cheeks flushed with embarrassment. “Uh, hi,” I offer a sheepish wave. “I promise I wasn’t eavesdropping. I was just checking on the girls, and when I realized you wouldn’t be home in time, I came to put away the food. Then, well, you both walked in, but I swear, I didn’t hear anything.”

They just stare, their expressions unreadable.

“Okay, so maybe I heard everything,” I admit with a nervous laugh. “I’m just gonna go now.”

“No,” Ms. Vicky interjects, her voice warm despite the tension lingering in the air. She steps toward me, surprising me with a gentle hug. Leaning in, she whispers, “Take care of him, will you? Don’t let him revert to the man he once was.”

Before I can respond, she pulls back, her bright smile returning as if we hadn’t just shared an intimate secret. “Well, I’m off. Try to get some rest, Son, and think about what I said. Goodnight, Ms. Kind. You look lovely, by the way.” She tosses a playful wink toward her son before sweeping out the door.

A surprised chuckle escapes him, the tension in his shoulders easing for the first time since he’s been home. Now alone, we both hesitate, our words caught somewhere between our thoughts and tongues. Finally, he breaks the silence.

“I’m sorry about today,” he says, his voice quieter, softer. “I tried to leave the office, but I was swamped with meetings, contracts, and negotiations… while Hudson just…bailed on me. He wants to be CEO, but he doesn’t want to grow up.”

I’m taken aback by his candor, sensing the isolation he must feel, not having had someone to discuss his burdens and frustration with for years. But before he can continue, I interject.

“Hey,” I say, gently placing my hand on his arm, offering a comforting touch. “Why don’t you go and give Ari a kiss goodnight while I heat your dinner? Then, we can talk about your day.”

He closes his eyes briefly, exhaling like he’s been holding his breath for hours. “She waited for me, didn’t she?” His voice is a whisper now, laced with guilt. “This is exactly what I didn’t want to happen. Exactly who I didn’t want to become again.”

“It’s okay, Mr. Grimes,” I reassure him, gently nudging him toward the hallway. “I’m sure once you give her a hug and a kiss, she’ll fall right to sleep. Now, go on.”

He nods silently and heads to the girls’ rooms. Meanwhile, I return to the kitchen, heat his dinner, then pour a glass of wine for me and whiskey for him, ready to ease into the evening with a bit of shared solace.